The Foreign Agricultural Service is withdrawing its January 2005 proposed rule to revise the Refined Sugar Re-export Program, the Sugar-containing Products Re-export Program, and the Polyhydric Alcohol Program under 7 CFR 1530, because market conditions have changed. FAS intends to publish an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on trade under the Sugar Re-export Program with Mexico. (FAS notice, FR Pub 05/04/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-10425.pdf)
The Office of Foreign Assets Control is publishing the names of five individuals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo whose property and interests in property have been blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13413, “Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” effective April 28, 2010. (OFAC notice, FR Pub 05/04/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-10298.pdf)
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has posted an April 2010 Overview of the toxicity of dialkyl ortho-phthalates (O-DAPs), a class comprising about 30 commercial products. The overview is accompanied by detailed staff toxicity reviews of the six banned phthalates, as well as a contractor's report summarizing the toxicity of five phthalate substitutes. (Overview, posted 04/16/10, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/phthalover.pdf)
The Food Safety Inspection Service is announcing the 2010 Meat and Poultry Inspection Seminars for International Officials. Seminars on U.S. inspection regulations and procedures will be held on the following dates/locations: May 18 - Jun 4, 2010 Mayaguez, PR, Aug 9 - Aug 20, 2010 Washington, DC, and Sep 13 - Oct 1, 2010 Washington, DC. (Schedule available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/2010_Meat_&_Poultry_Inspection_Seminars/index.asp )
The State Department has announced that the U.S., Canada and Mexico submitted a joint North American proposal on April 30, 2010 to phase down the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. (State release, dated 04/30/10, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/04/141074.htm)
The Department of Homeland Security has announced that Secretary Napolitano and Mexican Interior Secretary Gómez-Mont will participate in a moderated discussion about U.S.-Mexico cooperation to strengthen security, coordinate law enforcement activities, and streamline lawful commerce and travel on May 4, 2010. The discussion and the entire event will be streamed live on www.dhs.gov/live.
The International Trade Administration has issued a fact sheet announcing its affirmative preliminary determinations in the antidumping duty investigations of certain coated paper suitable for high-quality print graphics using sheet-fed presses from China and Indonesia (A-570-958 and A-560-823).
The International Trade Administration is requesting comments on any subsidies, including stumpage subsidies, provided by certain countries exporting softwood lumber or softwood lumber products to the U.S. during the period July 1 -- December 31, 2009.
The Federal Maritime Commission has announced that it will hold confidential hearings on May 11-13, 2010 pursuant to its investigation into current conditions and practices in the U.S. liner trades, including container vessel capacity and equipment availability, as well as potential impediments to the flow of ocean-borne import and export trades.
The Food and Drug Administration has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to request data and information on the food1 transportation industry and its practices. FDA is also requesting data and information on the contamination of transported foods and any associated outbreaks.