Port Surveillance News: CPSC Uses Pilot Risk Assessment Tool to Strengthen Import Safety Program
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission / http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Newsroom/News-Releases/2014/CPSC-Uses-Pilot-Risk-Assessment-Tool-to-Strengthen-Import-Safety/
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- A state-of-the-art risk assessment tool gives the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) an edge in its mission to protect American consumers from products that violate U.S. safety rules or that are found to be defective.
The risk assessment methodology (RAM) pilot targeting system allows CPSC investigators to analyze data provided by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and identify high-risk shipments of consumer products arriving at U.S. ports of entry, and then make calculated and effective decisions about which shipments to inspect.
The RAM helped CPSC investigators and their CBP counterparts to screen more than 12,400 different imported consumer product shipments from the start of the 2013 fiscal year (FY) in October 2012 to the end of the second quarter in March 2013. The screenings led to the identification of about 680 shipments containing violative or defective products, totaling about 6.1 million units -- all of which CPSC and CBP prevented from moving into the U.S. stream of commerce and into the hands of consumers.
About 600 of the product shipments stopped in the first half of FY 2013 were children’s products totaling about 1.2 million units. This compares to approximately 450 product shipments stopped with a total of 900,000 units during the same period in FY 2012.
In addition to protecting American consumers from potential harm, CPSC’s import surveillance program has prevented various importers and retailers from having to carry out costly recalls.
In the first quarter of fiscal year 2013, investigators seized a shipment of nearly 28,000 toy baby bottles. The bottles, imported by Dollar Tree (Greenbriar International), were cited for a small parts violation. The nipples on the bottles were easily removed and fit into a small parts cylinder, a device used to determine if a toy piece is small enough to fit in the throat of a small child. CPSC technical staff determined that the products appealed to children younger than 3 years of age.
“Had this product not been caught at import, CPSC would have called upon Dollar Tree to conduct a consumer-level recall,” said Acting Chairman Robert Adler. “In addition to the value of the shipment, the retailer would have had to pay for all of the expenses associated with the recall.”
The RAM pilot also allows CPSC to recognize compliant, low risk cargo to prevent these shipments from being delayed at the ports. CPSC and CBP also work collaboratively on the Import Safety Assessment-Product Safety (ISA-PS) trusted trader program.
Although the program is still in the pilot phase, the agency hopes to secure funding to expand the RAM program in the future.
CPSC has been screening products at ports since the agency began operating in 1973. The agency intensified its efforts in 2008 with the creation of an import surveillance division and again in 2011 with the creation of the Office of Import Surveillance.
CPSC Import Stoppage Report
FTC to Re-Schedule the Roundtable on Proposed Changes to U.S. Care Labeling Rule for Clothing That was to Have Been Held on October 1, 2013
Office of Textile and Apparel (OTEXA) / http://otexa.ita.doc.gov/
12/05/13 - FTC to re-schedule the Roundtable on Proposed Changes to U.S. Care Labeling Rule for Clothing that was to have been held on October 1, 2013. Commission staff tentatively plans to hold the roundtable on Friday, March 28, 2014, subject to Commission approval.
Baltimore CBP Intercepts Two First in Port Insects
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/local/12112013_2.xml
Baltimore, Md. – A U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) entomologist confirmed Friday that U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists at Baltimore Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport discovered a new pest in the Baltimore area when they intercepted, Palmaspis sp. (Asterolecaniidae), a type of scale insect, while inspecting a palm leaf hat worn by a traveler on June 25. The USDA entomologist also confirmed today that the CBP agriculture specialists at the Baltimore seaport discovered another new pest in the Baltimore area when they intercepted Dolichoderus quadripiunctatus, a type of ant, while inspecting a containerized shipment of ceramic tiles from Italy on November 20.
Scale insects can pose a significant agriculture threat because they draw sap directly from a host plant’s vascular system weakening it. Infestation can lead to a decrease in productivity and quality of crops, which can result in significant economic loss. Scale insects are known to have a waxy covering which makes them quite resistant to pesticides. Ants can protect honeydew producing and sucking insects such as scale, mealybug, aphis, and whiteflys that do a great deal of damage to crops.
“CBP agriculture specialists are very good at detecting foreign invasive plants and plant pests,” said Sheryl Monette Assistant Port Director for the Port of Baltimore. “These discoveries highlight the importance of the work they do, part of which is protecting the U.S. agriculture industry.”
The scale insect was discovered on a palm leaf hat being worn by a passenger arriving from Jamaica. CBP seized the infested hat and forwarded a specimen to a USDA- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) - Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) entomologist for identification. The remaining palm leaves were then destroyed by incineration. The ant was discovered in the interior of a shipping container of ceramic tile from Italy. The container was safeguarded and specimens of the ants were forwarded to a USDA- APHIS - PPQ entomologist for identification. CBP issued an Emergency Action Notice to the importer requiring the container to be fumigated or re-exported. The importer elected to have the shipment fumigated.
CBP agriculture specialists work closely with USDA’s, APHIS, PPQ to protect our nation’s agriculture resources against the introduction of foreign plant pests and animal diseases.
For more on the USDA, APHIS, PPQ program, please visit the USDA, APHIS, PPQ Program website. ( USDA, APHIS, PPQ Program )
CBP agriculture specialists have extensive training and experience in the biological sciences and agricultural inspection. On a typical day, they inspect tens of thousands of international air passengers, and air and sea cargoes nationally being imported to the United States and seize 4,919 prohibited meat, plant materials or animal products, including 476 insect pests.
To learn more about CBP agriculture specialists, please visit the CBP.gov Agriculture Specialist website. ( Agriculture Specialist )
Big Marijuana Bust Made by CBP at Pharr International Bridge
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/local/12102013_3.xml
Pharr, Texas — Officers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Pharr International Bridge discovered over $1 Million worth of marijuana concealed within a commercial shipment of farm equipment.
“This was an outstanding interception of narcotics that our officers accomplished utilizing all available tools and resources,” said Efrain Solis Jr., port director, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas. “Just like the drug smuggling organizations think outside the box, so do our officers as demonstrated by this excellent seizure of drugs that will be kept out of our communities.”
The seizure occurred on Wednesday afternoon, December 4, after a commercial shipment of farm equipment arrived at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge cargo facility. The manifested farm equipment arrived on a commercial tractor/trailer, a red 2014 Kenworth pulling a flatbed trailer, which was referred to the commercial non-intrusive imaging system and subsequently for a secondary examination of shipment and conveyance. During the course of the secondary examination, officers discovered bulk, alleged marijuana packed into some cylindrical metal tubes that were part of the farm equipment. CBP officers extracted and seized a total 504.5 kilograms (1122.22 lbs.) from four tubes and seized the tractor/trailer and farm equipment as well.
USITC Makes Determination in Five-Year (Sunset) Review Concerning Steel Nails from China
U.S. International Trade Commission / http://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2013/er1211ll1.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty order on steel nails from China would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.
As a result of the Commission's affirmative determination, the existing order on imports of this product from China will remain in place.
All six Commissioners voted in the affirmative.
Today's action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. See the attached page for background on this five-year (sunset) review.
The Commission's public report Steel Nails from China (Inv. No. 731-TA-1114 (Review), USITC Publication 4442, December 2013) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the review.
Copies may be requested after January 9, 2014, by emailing pubrequest@usitc.gov, calling 202-205-2000, or writing to the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may be made by fax at 202-205-2104.
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BACKGROUND
The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.
The Commission's institution notice in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file responses with the Commission concerning the likely effects of revoking the order under review as well as other information. Generally within 95 days from institution, the Commission will determine whether the responses it has received reflect an adequate or inadequate level of interest in a full review. If responses to the USITC's notice of institution are adequate, or if other circumstances warrant a full review, the Commission conducts a full review, which includes a public hearing and issuance of questionnaires.
The Commission generally does not hold a hearing or conduct further investigative activities in expedited reviews. Commissioners base their injury determination in expedited reviews on the facts available, including the Commission's prior injury and review determinations, responses received to its notice of institution, data collected by staff in connection with the review, and information provided by the Department of Commerce.
The five-year (sunset) review concerning Steel Nails from China was instituted on July 1, 2013.
On October 21, 2013, the Commission voted to conduct an expedited review. Chairman Irving A. Williamson and Commissioners Shara L. Aranoff, Dean A. Pinkert, David S. Johanson and Meredith M. Broadbent concluded that the domestic group response for this review was adequate and the respondent group response was inadequate and voted for an expedited review. Commissioner F. Scott Kieff did not participate in the adequacy determination.
A record of the Commission's vote to conduct an expedited review is available from the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may be made by telephone by calling 202-205-1802.
FDA Takes Significant Steps to Address Antimicrobial Resistance
Food & Drug Administration / http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm378193.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Agency implementing plan to ensure judicious use of antibiotics in food animals
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today is implementing a plan to help phase out the use of medically important antimicrobials in food animals for food production purposes, such as to enhance growth or improve feed efficiency. The plan would also phase in veterinary oversight of the remaining appropriate therapeutic uses of such drugs.
Certain antimicrobials have historically been used in the feed or drinking water of cattle, poultry, hogs, and other food animals for production purposes such as using less food to gain weight. Some of these antimicrobials are important drugs used to treat human infection, prompting concerns about the contribution of this practice to increasing the ability of bacteria and other microbes to resist the effects of a drug. Once antimicrobial resistance occurs, a drug may no longer be as effective in treating various illnesses or infections.
Because antimicrobial drug use in both humans and animals can contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance, it is important to use these drugs only when medically necessary. The plan announced today focuses on those antimicrobial drugs that are considered medically important (i.e., are important for treating human infection) and which are approved for use in feed and water of food animals.
In a final guidance issued today, the FDA lays out a road map for animal pharmaceutical companies to voluntarily revise the FDA-approved use conditions on the labels of these products to remove production indications. The plan also calls for changing the current over-the-counter (OTC) status to bring the remaining appropriate therapeutic uses under veterinary oversight. Once a manufacturer voluntarily makes these changes, its medically important antimicrobial drugs can no longer be used for production purposes, and their use to treat, control, or prevent disease in animals will require veterinary oversight.
The FDA is asking animal pharmaceutical companies to notify the agency of their intent to sign on to the strategy within the next three months. These companies would then have a three-year transition process.
“Implementing this strategy is an important step forward in addressing antimicrobial resistance. The FDA is leveraging the cooperation of the pharmaceutical industry to voluntarily make these changes because we believe this approach is the fastest way to achieve our goal,” said FDA Deputy Commissioner for Foods and Veterinary Medicine Michael Taylor. “Based on our outreach, we have every reason to believe that animal pharmaceutical companies will support us in this effort.”
In order to help phase in veterinary oversight of those drugs covered by the guidance that are intended for medically appropriate uses in feed, the FDA also has issued a proposed rule to update the existing regulations relating to Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) drugs. The use of VFD drugs requires specific authorization by a licensed veterinarian using a process outlined in the agency’s VFD regulations. The VFD proposed rule is intended to update the existing VFD process and facilitate expanded veterinary oversight by clarifying and increasing the flexibility of the administrative requirements for the distribution and use of VFD drugs. Such updates to the VFD process will assist in the transition of OTC products to their new VFD status.
“This action promotes the judicious use of important antimicrobials to protect public health while ensuring that sick and at-risk animals receive the therapy they need,” said Bernadette Dunham, DVM, Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. “We realize that these steps represent changes for veterinarians and animal producers, and we have been working -- and will continue to work -- to make this transition as seamless as possible.”
The guidance for animal pharmaceutical companies is now in final form, and the proposed VFD rule is open for public comment for 90 days starting on Dec. 12, 2013. To electronically submit comments on the proposed VFD rule, go to www.regulations.gov and insert docket FDA-2010-N-0155. Send written comments to the Division of Dockets Management, Food and Drug Administration, Room 1061, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852.
France to Destroy its Ivory Stockpile
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service / http://www.fws.gov/
We congratulate France for its decision to destroy its elephant ivory stockpile. This step will send a powerful message to wildlife traffickers that the international community will not tolerate wildlife crime that threatens to wipe out the African elephant and other species around the globe. France now joins the United States, Kenya, the Philippines and Gabon, which have already destroyed their illegal ivory stockpiles, in this fight to stop trafficking and save elephants.