Executive Order Prohibits Imports from North Korea
04/19/11 01:01 PM
On
April 18, 2011, President Obama issued an
Executive Order
that, effective
April 19, 2011, prohibits all direct or indirect
importation of goods, services, and technology
form North Korea. Unless exempt, all imports
into the U.S. from North Korea must be
authorized.
The Order leaves in place all existing sanctions imposed under Executive Orders 13466 and 13551.
Executive Order 13466 of 2008 declared a national emergency pursuant to International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the U.S. posed by the proliferation of weapons-usable fissile material on the Korean Peninsula.
Executive Order 13551 of 2010 expanded the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13466 and blocked the property and interests in property of three North Korean entities and one individual.
The Order leaves in place all existing sanctions imposed under Executive Orders 13466 and 13551.
Executive Order 13466 of 2008 declared a national emergency pursuant to International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the U.S. posed by the proliferation of weapons-usable fissile material on the Korean Peninsula.
Executive Order 13551 of 2010 expanded the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13466 and blocked the property and interests in property of three North Korean entities and one individual.
CBP Releases Import Trade Trends for 1st Half of Fiscal Year 2010
09/27/10 04:33 PM
On
September 27, 2010, U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) announced that it has completed
its analysis of import trade trends through the
Mid-Year Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 including
projections of trade activity through the end of FY
2010. This interim report acts as a precursor to
the more extensive FY 2010 Final Report to be
released later this year.
Import Trade Trends provides a snapshot of the global economy. It allows CBP to analyze trade activity during the last six months and to readily establish trend lines derived from comparisons with performance in previous years. Based on the data that’s been collected by CBP, CBP has confirmed that ordinary seasonal patterns are recurring in a manner that reflects our recovering economy.
The report’s statistical highlights for mid-fiscal year 2010 are:
Import Trade Trends provides a snapshot of the global economy. It allows CBP to analyze trade activity during the last six months and to readily establish trend lines derived from comparisons with performance in previous years. Based on the data that’s been collected by CBP, CBP has confirmed that ordinary seasonal patterns are recurring in a manner that reflects our recovering economy.
The report’s statistical highlights for mid-fiscal year 2010 are:
- During the first
six months of fiscal year 2009, U.S. imports
rapidly declined. Seasonal patterns resumed by
mid-year 2010, resulting in a moderate recovery
in trade.
• Imports are now at levels last seen in fiscal year 2006. Continued stability and modest growth are projected for fiscal year 2010. - The total value
of imports processed by U.S. Customs and Border
Protection was slightly more than $1.7 trillion
in fiscal year 2009, a 25 percent decrease from
the previous year. By year end 2010, it is
projected that the value of imports will increase
6 percent, totaling $1.8 trillion.
• Consistent with recent years, only 29 percent of imported goods were dutiable. The remaining goods were duty free or free under tariff preference programs.
• During the first six months of fiscal year 2010, CBP collected $15 billion in revenue for the U.S. government. It is projected that $31 billion will be collected by year end.
• A total of $130 million in antidumping/countervailing duties were collected during the first half of fiscal year 2010, down slightly from the same period last year.
• After the Revenue Gap declined for five, consecutive years, preliminary measurements indicate that the level of uncollected duties rose to 1.4 percent, which is roughly equivalent to levels reported in fiscal year 2007.
• Based on a random sampling, 98.6 percent of the fiscal year 2010 imports were materially compliant with all U.S. trade laws and regulations. This compliance rate is slightly higher than recent years.
• Entry volume at the mid-point of fiscal year 2010 is 13 million. By year end, 27 million entries are expected, an increase of 5 percent from fiscal year 2009.
• China surpassed Canada as the United States’ top source of imports in fiscal year 2009, and is projected to maintain its lead through fiscal year 2011.
Imports of Food Products Subject to New Requirements
04/01/09 03:45 PM
On
March 31, 2009, the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS) issued a letter to the Trade
outlining the new import permit process for USDA
Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS)-exempted
food products containing small amounts (less
than two percent) of meat and/or poultry
ingredients.
All import permit applications for FSIS-exempted food products containing small amounts of meat and poultry ingredients submitted to APHIS after June 22, 2009 will be reviewed by FSIS before APHIS can issue an import permit. The new rules mandate that, after the permit applications are submitted to APHIS, they must be approved by FSIS to ensure that meat and poultry ingredients in such food products originate from eligible sources (i.e. prepared under FSIS supervision or in a foreign establishment certified by a foreign inspection system approved by FSIS). Importers will now be required to provide evidence directly to FSIS to support the origin of the meat and poultry ingredients used in the food products identified on the APHIS permit application.
Failure to provide such source documentation will lead to FSIS advising APHIS that the products are ineligible for entry into U.S. commerce, and an import permit will be denied.
Furthermore, APHIS has informed Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that a USDA import permit will now be required for FSIS-exempted food products containing small smounts of meat and/or poultry ingredients from countries considered by USDA to be affected with animal diseases of concern. Products from such countries that previously entered under a health certificate indicating product being concentrated for boiling (e.g. bouillon cubes, extracts, or soup mixes), will now require a USDA import permit. Customs will begin enforcing this APHIS policy on June 22, 2009.
A list of countries eligible to export meat, poultry or processed egg products to the U.S. can be found here.
All import permit applications for FSIS-exempted food products containing small amounts of meat and poultry ingredients submitted to APHIS after June 22, 2009 will be reviewed by FSIS before APHIS can issue an import permit. The new rules mandate that, after the permit applications are submitted to APHIS, they must be approved by FSIS to ensure that meat and poultry ingredients in such food products originate from eligible sources (i.e. prepared under FSIS supervision or in a foreign establishment certified by a foreign inspection system approved by FSIS). Importers will now be required to provide evidence directly to FSIS to support the origin of the meat and poultry ingredients used in the food products identified on the APHIS permit application.
Failure to provide such source documentation will lead to FSIS advising APHIS that the products are ineligible for entry into U.S. commerce, and an import permit will be denied.
Furthermore, APHIS has informed Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that a USDA import permit will now be required for FSIS-exempted food products containing small smounts of meat and/or poultry ingredients from countries considered by USDA to be affected with animal diseases of concern. Products from such countries that previously entered under a health certificate indicating product being concentrated for boiling (e.g. bouillon cubes, extracts, or soup mixes), will now require a USDA import permit. Customs will begin enforcing this APHIS policy on June 22, 2009.
A list of countries eligible to export meat, poultry or processed egg products to the U.S. can be found here.
FDA Develops New Tools to Further Improve the Security of Food and Cosmetics
12/26/07 11:26 AM
As part
of the Food and Drug Administration's
(FDA) comprehensive
Food Protection
Plan initiative,
on December 21, 2007, the FDA released
self-assessment
tools for
the food and cosmetic industry to minimize the
risk of intentional contamination of food and
cosmetics. The FDA states that the tools are
companion pieces designed to make the previously
issued industry guidance documents more
user-friendly and practical.
In 2003, the FDA issued a set of Food and Cosmetic Security Preventative Measures Guidance documents. These documents were aimed at operators of food and cosmetic establishments, as well as businesses that produce, process, store, repack, relabel, distribute, sell or transport foods, food ingredients, and cosmetics to help them minimize the risk of malicious, criminal, or terrorist actions involving products under their control.
The guidance documents are:
The self-assessment tool asks the participant to mark the presence of a variety of food protection measures with a Y (Yes), N (No), N/A (Not Applicable), or Don't Know for each item. Examples of measures addressed by the self-assessment tools include the possibility of product tampering; identification of security procedures and responsibilities; and evaluation of response strategies in the event of product tampering or other intentional contamination.
In 2003, the FDA issued a set of Food and Cosmetic Security Preventative Measures Guidance documents. These documents were aimed at operators of food and cosmetic establishments, as well as businesses that produce, process, store, repack, relabel, distribute, sell or transport foods, food ingredients, and cosmetics to help them minimize the risk of malicious, criminal, or terrorist actions involving products under their control.
The guidance documents are:
- Food Producers, Processors, and Transporters: Food Security Preventive Measures Guidance
- Importers and Filers: Food Security Preventive Measures Guidance
- Retail Food Stores and Food Service Establishments: Food Security Preventive Measures Guidance
- Cosmetics Processors and Transporters: Cosmetics Security Preventive Measures Guidance
- Dairy Farms, Bulk Milk Transporters, Bulk Milk Transfer Stations and Fluid Milk Processors Food Security Preventive Measures Guidance
The self-assessment tool asks the participant to mark the presence of a variety of food protection measures with a Y (Yes), N (No), N/A (Not Applicable), or Don't Know for each item. Examples of measures addressed by the self-assessment tools include the possibility of product tampering; identification of security procedures and responsibilities; and evaluation of response strategies in the event of product tampering or other intentional contamination.
Interagency Working Group on Import Safety Presents Action Plan to President Bush
11/08/07 07:06 PM
More information can be found at: www.importsafety.gov.