Miscellaneous International Trade Notices

1. NGO Notifies Four Retailers of High Cadmium Levels in Their Jewelry

The Center for Environmental Health has notified four retailers, Saks Fifth Avenue, Justice, Catherines, and Aeropostale that independent lab testing has found significant levels of cadmium in jewelry purchased from their stores in December and January. Similar recent reports suggest that, in response to the new federal law limiting lead in children's products, jewelry makers may be using cadmium instead of lead. (Press release, dated 02/02/10, available at http://www.ceh.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=428&Itemid=166)

2. CPSC Announces Recall of Generation 2 Worldwide and "ChildESIGNS" Drop Side Cribs

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of all Generation 2 Worldwide and "ChildESIGNS" drop side cribs. The name "Generation 2 Worldwide" appears on a label affixed to the crib's headboard or footboard. Some labels identify the place of manufacture as Dothan, Ala. Others identify China as the country of manufacture. (CPSC press release, dated 02/09/10, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10134.html)

3. CPSC Cancels Feb 10th Public Meeting on Unblockable Drains

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has canceled its public meeting scheduled for February 10, 2010 on unblockable drains due to inclement weather in the Washington, DC area. (CPSC notice, updated 02/02/10, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/calendar.html)

4. FMC Reschedules Feb 10th Meeting on NCBFAA Petition, Etc. to Feb 18th

The Federal Maritime Commission has canceled its February 10, 2010 meeting due to inclement weather in the Washington, DC area. The meeting has been rescheduled for February 18, 2010. Among other things, the meeting's agenda includes the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America's petition for an exemption from mandatory rate tariff publication. (See ITT's Online Archives or 02/05/10, for BP summary of the meeting's agenda.) (FMC notice, posted 02/09/10, available at http://www.fmc.gov/home/CancellationofFebruary10Meeting.asp)

5. OMB Approves BIS Final Rule to Enhance Homeland Security

The Office of Management and Budget has approved a Bureau of Industry and Security final rule that will add one new entry to the Commerce Control List (CCL) to control certain homeland security related technology. This rule also adds new license review criteria to the EAR to create a presumption of approval for certain cooperating countries when the intended end-use is for protecting the homeland security interests of those countries. (Rule, completed 01/26/10, available at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=200910&RIN=0694-AE64)

6. ITC Cancels Feb. 9 & 10th Hearing on SME Exports

The International Trade Commission is canceling its hearing scheduled for February 9 and 10 in Washington, DC regarding its investigations on small and medium-sized enterprise exports (Inv. No. 332-509 and Inv. No. 332-510) due to continuing inclement weather. ITC will reschedule this hearing, if possible. Alternatively, witnesses may submit written testimony or consider appearing at one of the ITC's field hearings in St. Louis, MO, and Portland, OR. (Notice, posted 02/09/10, available at http://www.usitc.gov/)

7. ITC Announces Security Changes for New Version of EDIS

The International Trade Commission has announced that beginning February 12, 2010, the following security changes will be deployed as part of the Electronic Document Information System (EDIS) 3.3.1 Release: (1) Anonymous search capability will be disabled; and (2) CAPTCHA text will be required of all users in order to successfully login and to complete registration. (Changes, posted 02/03/10, available at http://www.usitc.gov/documents/edis_3.3.1_security_changes.pdf)

8. APHIS Recognizes 16 Additional Districts in South Africa as Pest-Free for Citrus Black Spot

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is recognizing 16 additional magisterial districts in 3 provinces in the Republic of South Africa as pest-free areas for citrus black spot based on its site visit to the area and its review of the documentation submitted by South Africa's national plant protection organization. (D/N APHIS-2009-0037, FR Pub 02/09/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-2846.pdf)

9. APHIS Requests Comments on Pest Risk Analyses for Chile, Israel, Panama

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has announced the availability ofthe followingpest risk analyses,which evaluate the risks associated with the importation into the continental U.S. of: fresh figs, pomegranates, and baby kiwi fruit from Chile; fresh male summer squash flowers from Israel; andfresh false coriander from Panama. Comments on these analysesare due by April 12, 2010.

10. ATF Reminder on Filing Annual Mfging and Export Report by April 1st

The Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Bureau has issued a reminder to all licensed firearms manufacturers that hold either a Type 07 license (manufacturer of firearms) or a Type 10 license (manufacturer of destructive devices) to submit their ATF Form 5300.11, "Annual Firearms Manufacturing and Exportation Report" by April 1, 2010. (Press release, dated 02/01/10, available at http://www.atf.gov/press/releases/2010/02/020110-notice-ffl-manufacturers-afmer-report.html)

11. USDA Secretary Appoints Six to National Mango Board

USDA Secretary Vilsack appointed six members to serve on the National Mango Board. The members will serve three-year terms beginning immediately and ending on December 31, 2012. Under the Mango Order, first handlers and importers pay an assessment at the rate of a half-cent per pound on all mangos. (News release, dated 02/04/10, available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateU&navID=&page=Newsroom&resultType=Details&dDocName=STELPRDC5082512&dID=126608&wf=false&description=USDANamesMemberstotheNationalMangoBoard&topNav=Newsroom&leftNav=&rightNav)

12. NOAA Launches Climate.gov Portal, Proposes Climate Service

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has unveiledthe NOAA Climate Portal - http://www.climate.gov - that serves as a single point-of-entry for NOAA's extensive climate information, data, products and services. NOAA has also proposed theestablishment of a NOAA Climate Service. (Press release, dated 02/08/10, available at http://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/PressReleases_FactSheets/PROD01_008902)

13. Revised FDA Import Alerts

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

16-66: Shark and Tuna for Methyl Mercury

16-35: Raw And Cooked Shrimp from India

14. FAS Global Agriculture Information Network Reports

The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:

Vietnam - Rice Price - Weekly: 2010

Japan - A Brief History of the Japan Agricultural Exchange Council

Italy - Production and Exports of Italian Food and Drink in 2009: Market Development Reports

Indonesia - Rice Update: Grain and Feed

EU-27 - EU Export Quota increased to 1,850,000 metric tons of refined sugar: Sugar

Brazil - Grain and Feed Update: Quarterly Gains Report

Honduras - Apple Report: Fresh Deciduous Fruit

Mexico - GOM Investigates Monopolistic Practices In Mexican Poultry Sector: Trade Policy Monitoring, Poultry and Products, Livestock and Products

Thailand - Rice Price - Weekly: Weekly Rice Price Update

Thailand - Grain and Feed Update: Off-season Rice Crop Update

Indonesia - Retail Food Sector: Retail Report Update

Senegal - Rice Trade - Quarterly: Rice Imports Fourth Quarter 2009

Ukraine - Retail Foods: Slow Down after Rapid Expansion

China - Licensing for New Additives: FAIRS Subject Report

Turkey - Poultry Situation: Poultry and Products

Serbia - Update on Wheat and Corn: Grain and Feed

Australia - Australian Container Exports Rise: Agriculture in the Economy, Grain and Feed

Croatia - Agricultural Land Act Complications: Agricultural Situation

Greece -Export Opportunities to Greece: Market Development Reports

United Arab Emirates - Retail Food Sector: UAE Retail Sector Report 2009

China - Dried Fruit Annual 2009: Raisins

Egypt - Rice Update: Grain and Feed

Israel - AI Case: Poultry and Products

Poland EU-27 - EU New Member States complain about agricultural subsidies: Trade Policy Monitoring, Agricultural Situation

Zimbabwe - Corn and wheat update: Grain and Feed

Italy - Implementation of the Health Check- One Year On: Trade Policy Monitoring

India - Weekly Highlights and Hot Bites No. 5: Agriculture in the News

Italy - The Widespread Use of Biotechnology in Italy: Biotechnology

South Africa - Grain and Feed Annual: Annual report for corn, wheat and rice

Canada - Grain and Feed Update: Grain and Feed - January 31 Lock-up Report

15. Agency Seeks Comments on Information Collections

Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested or intend to request Office of Management and Budget approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):

Agency Information Collection Comments Due

(Information collection notices are hyperlinked to agency name.)