The Census Bureau reported April 20 that the Automated Export System wasn't "properly functioning for users." The agency said in an email that it was working with CBP "to determine the cause and resolution for the problem. Additional guidance will be provided if the issue persists."

The Fish and Wildlife Service announced April 14 it will allow normal trade operations to resume with Mexico in species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, in line with a withdrawal of the trade suspension by CITES the previous day. “The CITES trade suspension with Mexico is withdrawn,” the FWS said. “The United States will resume normal trade operations with Mexico related to CITES species, effective immediately.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing to list nine fentanyl-related substances -- meta-fluorofentanyl, meta-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl, para-methoxyfuranyl fentanyl, 3-furanyl fentanyl, 2′,5′-dimethoxyfentanyl, isovaleryl fentanyl, ortho-fluorofuranyl fentanyl, alpha′-methyl butyryl fentanyl, and para-methylcyclopropyl fentanyl -- under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a notice published April 13. The four substances are already temporarily controlled under a 2018 order that has been most recently extended until the end of 2024. "If finalized, this action would make permanent the existing regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to schedule I controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities or chemical analysis, or possess), or propose to handle these nine specific controlled substances," DEA said. Comments are due by May 15.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is finalizing controls on 4-piperidone as a list I chemical under the Controlled Substances Act. The chemical is used in the manufacture of fentanyl, DEA said. The agency is not setting a threshold for domestic and international transactions for these chemicals, so “all transactions involving 4-piperidone, regardless of size, shall be regulated and are subject to control under the CSA," and "chemical mixtures containing 4-piperidone are not exempt from regulatory requirements at any concentration." The listing takes effect May 12.

The Environmental Protection Agency released a final rule April 10 setting new significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 28 chemical substances subject to Premanufacture Notices (PMNs). As a result of the SNURs, persons planning to manufacture, import or process any of the chemical substances for an activity designated as a significant new use by this rule are required to notify EPA at least 90 days in advance. Importers of chemicals subject to these SNURs will need to certify their compliance with the SNUR requirements, and exporters of these chemical substances will now become subject to export notification requirements. The final rule takes effect June 12. The SNURs cover the following:

The Fish and Wildlife Service is issuing a final rule listing the bracted twistflower (Streptanthus bracteatus), a plant species from Texas, as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The listing includes a 4(d) rule for this species that prohibits importation and exportation without a permit. New import and export restrictions set by the agency’s final rule take effect May 11.

CBP April 5 said it was working on a “resolution” to fix “navigation issues” to the Automated Export System Direct filing tool in the ACE Modernized Portal. The agency asked users to instead navigate to AESDirect by “logging in and launching the ‘Legacy ACE’ on the reference tab,” according to a CSMS message. “This will allow you to select ‘Exporter’ under the accounts tab and launch AESDirect from that point.” CBP said it plans to issue another message “once a fix has been implemented.”

CBP should consider developing a new process to connect the “lowest level house bill of lading information” to the exporting carrier’s manifest for certain multi-modal exports, a Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee working group said this week. COAC’s Export Modernization Working Group, which outlined the recommendation during a March 29 COAC meeting, said the process would apply to multi-modal shipments “exporting the U.S. via land borders, for subsequent departure from non- U.S. air/seaports to foreign destinations.”

The Bureau of Industry and Security’s export application submission system will be unavailable beginning March 31 at 9 p.m. EDT and lasting through April 3 at 6 a.m. EDT for “planned maintenance,” the agency said in an alert on its homepage this week. The BIS Simplified Network Application Process – Redesign system (SNAP-R) “will not be accessible” during this time.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is issuing a final rule listing the Egyptian tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni; syn. Testudo werneri), a terrestrial tortoise from Libya, Egypt and Israel, as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The listing includes a 4(d) rule for this species that prohibits importation and exportation without a permit. New import and export restrictions set by the agency’s final rule take effect May 1.