On May 3, 2010, APHIS updated its Postentry Quarantine PPQ Manual for State Inspectors. This manual covers procedures for conducting PEQ tasks beginning with the request to approve a growing site and ending with the release or refusal of the plant material. (Manual, updated 05/03/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/domestic/downloads/postentry.pdf)

The Food and Drug Administration has posted revised versions of the following Import Alert on the detention without physical examination of:

The Justice Department has intervened in a whistleblower lawsuit against Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR), Panalpina Inc. and others that alleges that employees of two freight forwarders doing business with the companies provided unlawful kickbacks to KBR transportation department employees. The government will seek damages and penalties under the False Claims Act and common law, as well as penalties under the Anti-Kickback Act. (DOJ press release, dated 05/05/10, available at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/May/10-civ-529.html)

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has announced the country-specific allocations for the recently announced increase to the fiscal year 2010 in-quota tariff-rate quota quantity for imported raw cane sugar.

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has revised its Guidelines for Completion of Export and Temporary Import License Applications in order to add guidance on the use of individual names.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has published notice of the following voluntary recalls:

The Department of Commerce encourages businesses to exhibit at Rebuild Chile 2010, a trade show certified under the DOC Trade Fair Certification Program. The exhibition will be held from June 15-17, 2010 in Santiago, Chile and is the only forum in Chile that targets the rebuilding efforts of the Chilean government's response to the February 2010 earthquake. (release available at http://www.export.gov/eac/show_detail_trade_events.asp?EventID=30896)

The Department of Transportation is seeking public comment to help finalize a new strategic plan, Transportation for a New Generation, that will help set the priorities of the department and offers a blueprint for improving transportation safety, maintaining transportation infrastructure, fostering livable communities, etc. A copy of the plan can be viewed at www.dot.gov. (release 83-10, dated 05/04/10, available at http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2010/dot8310.htm)

The U.S. and Trinidad and Tobago have reached a new Open-Skies aviation agreement that is more extensive than the prior agreement. Under the new agreement, airlines from both countries will be allowed to select routes and destinations based on consumer demand for both passenger and cargo services, without limitations. (DOT 87-10, dated 05/04/10, available at http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2010/dot8710.htm)

In its May 5, 2010 open Commission meeting, the Consumer Product Safety Commission unanimously approved publication of four proposed rules in the Federal Register, including the proposed "15 Month" rule¹ on testing and labeling, the related proposed rule on component testing, and proposed “15(j)” rules for drawstrings and hand-held hairdryers.