CBP Notifies Travelers of Change in Policy for Regulating Cooked Eggs from Mexico
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / www.cbp.gov
San Diego — Effective immediately, travelers may once again bring fully cooked eggs into the U.S. from Mexico.
In March 2011, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) informed CBP that APHIS was adding restrictions to live bird and poultry imports to protect the United States from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). This rule also amended existing regulations related to exotic Newcastle disease (END). These changes meant that egg and egg products from HPAI or END regions would need a Veterinary Services (VS) import permit for entry into the U.S. Consequently, thoroughly cooked eggs could not be brought in passenger baggage by travelers arriving from Mexico, where END is recognized by APHIS as existing.
Now, provided Customs and Border Protection officials can visually confirm that any eggs and egg products are thoroughly cooked throughout, a VS import permit is no longer required for processed eggs and egg products from Mexico, including cooked eggs entering in passenger baggage or carry-on, or in meals for personal consumption. Examples of processed eggs and egg products include, but are not limited to, hard-boiled eggs, egg sandwiches, egg burritos, and meals containing identifiable eggs as part of the fully cooked meals.
CBP officials enforce hundreds of laws at the border for more than 40 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
As a reminder, travelers must declare all food items to CBP officials. Failure to declare prohibited agricultural items can result in civil penalties. Penalties for personal importations of undeclared, prohibited agricultural items, depending on the severity of the violation, can run as high as $1,000; and up to more than $250,000 for commercial importations.
Any media questions can be directed to the National Center for Import Export (NCIE) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services (USDA APHIS VS) at (301) 734-3277.
CBP Highlights Recent Trade Successes
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / www.cbp.gov
Washington — U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) commitment to streamlining and modernizing trade practices to benefit trade partners around the world has resulted in many successful accomplishments in the past year. CBP plays a unique role in securing and facilitating international trade today and this responsibility is crucial to maintaining U.S. economic competitiveness.
“CBP is fully committed to facilitating and modernizing the trade process,” said David V. Aguilar, CBP acting commissioner. “We can and will be a force for increased economic competitiveness for our nation.”
CBP remains committed to working with the trade community in partnership to further the successes and opportunities of the trade process. CBP has, in conjunction with the trade industry, worked to devise and test programs and processes that streamline work in ways that will benefit security and regulatory functions while strengthening the economic vitality of our nation, businesses and workers.
Programs such as the Customs and Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) have grown from seven participating partners to more than 10,200 Certified Partners worldwide, showcasing how the greater efficiency that accompanies the increased predictability of moving goods can provide major cost savings for businesses. In addition to C-TPAT, ongoing efforts to protect America from the trade in counterfeit and pirated goods during fiscal year 2011 resulted in 24,792 seizures, a 24 percent increase over 2010.
CBP is continuing efforts to strengthen trade facilitation. For example, in the near future a notice of proposed rulemaking for the in-bond process will be published in the Federal Register. This rule proposes various changes to in-bond regulations enhancing CBP’s relationship with trade partners and building on its already successful trade processes. The public will have 60 days from publication to submit comments.
CBP Finds Tunnels at Airport
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / www.cbp.gov
Detroit — U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialist at the Detroit Wayne County Inter-national Airport discovered several tunnels, created by wood boring insects, while conducting inspections of wood packaging materials during the month of January.
CBP agricultural specialists conducting inspections of commodities associated with Wood Packaging Materials (WPM), discovered signs of wood boring insects on thirteen occasions during the month of January in commercial air cargo at Detroit Metro Airport. 
Six inspections, occurring between Jan. 20 and Jan. 28, resulted in the interception of eight live wood boring insects. These discoveries resulted in the WPM being refused entry into the country.
“CBP agriculture specialists and CBP officers take their role of protecting our nation’s agriculture very seriously,” said Robert Larkin, acting port director, Detroit Metro Airport port of entry. “They are a critical part of CBP’s mission to protect our nation against all potential threats large or small."
All solid WPM is required to meet International Plant Protection Convention standards in order to be used in international shipping. According to USDA, the WPM should be stamped to show that it has been fumigated or heat treated in order to meet those standards.
The increased movement of wood products in international trade has provided an avenue for forest pests and pathogens to be transported to the U.S. from other countries. This is believed to be how many invasive pests have entered our ecosystem.
Invasive pests, like the Emerald Ash Borer and Asian Longhorned Beetle can have devastating impact on U.S. agricultural products.
FDA Seeks $4.5 Billion to Support Medical Product Development, Protect Patients and Ensure Safety of the Food Supply
Food & Drug Administration / www.fda.gov
FY 2013 request reflects a 17 percent increase from FY 2012 budget
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is requesting a budget of $4.5 billion to protect and promote the public health as part of the President’s fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget – a 17 percent increase over the FDA enacted budget for FY 2012. Industry user fees would fund 98 percent of the proposed budget increase. The FY 2013 request covers the period from Oct. 1, 2012 through Sept 30, 2013.
In addition to recommending new user fees to support the review of generic drugs and biosimilars, the FDA budget also contains increased funding for priorities such as import safety, medical countermeasures and research facilities to protect patients and consumers.
“These are austere budget times, and the FDA budget request reflects this reality,” said Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., Commissioner of Food and Drugs. “Our budget increases are targeted to strategic areas that will help speed the availability of new medical products, address the challenges of increased globalization and allow FDA to fulfill its public health duties more efficiently. With FDA-regulated products accounting for about a quarter of each dollar that Americans spend, these budget priorities will benefit patients and consumers and strengthen our economy.”
Highlights of the FDA FY 2013 budget include:
- Protecting Patients Initiative (+$364 million) recommends new user fees to support FDA generic drug activities and to support development and review of biosimilar biological products. Biosimilar biological products are highly similar to biological products that are already approved for marketing in the U.S. FDA’s budget request for these user fees is consistent with the agreement reached with industry. The initiative also includes resources to equip state-of-the-art laboratory facilities on FDA’s White Oak, Maryland campus for research to protect patients and consumers.
- Transforming Food Safety Initiative (+$253 million) will bolster FDA’s efforts to build a strong, reliable food safety system – as envisioned in the landmark Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). With the support of new user fees, FDA will foster a prevention-focused domestic and import food safety system to protect the health of American consumers. Under this initiative, FDA is also proposing new user fees to support its cosmetic and food contact substance programs.
- Food and Drug Inspections in China: The Transforming Food Safety and Protecting Patients Initiatives include $10 million in new resources for FDA to enhance collaboration with our Chinese counterparts and increase the agency’s presence in and expertise on China. This investment will strengthen the safety of the food and drugs produced in China for export to the United States.
- Medical Countermeasures (MCM) Initiative (+$3.5 million) will help meet America’s national security and public health requirements for MCM readiness. Congress provided new resources in FY 2012 to support FDA’s role in protecting the United States from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats, and from emerging infectious diseases such as pandemic influenza. The additional resources in FY 2013 will support science and partnerships to improve MCM development timelines and the success rates for MCMs. FDA will also expand technical assistance to developers, focusing on the highest priority MCMs.
Data Consolidation and IT Savings (-$20 million) initiative will produce savings to meet the requirements of recent executive orders that promote government efficiency and assure environmental, energy and economic performance. FDA will also reduce redundant computer equipment and achieve other IT savings.
For more information:
The President’s FY 2013 budget for the FDA1
U.S. Department of Transportation Proposes ‘Distraction’ Guidelines for Automakers
U.S. Department of Transportation / www.dot.gov
Proposed recommendations would encourage manufacturers to develop “less distracting” in-vehicle electronic devices
WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced the first-ever federally proposed guidelines to encourage automobile manufacturers to limit the distraction risk for in-vehicle electronic devices. The proposed voluntary guidelines would apply to communications, entertainment, information gathering and navigation devices or functions that are not required to safely operate the vehicle.
Issued by the Department’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the guidelines would establish specific recommended criteria for electronic devices installed in vehicles at the time they are manufactured that require visual or manual operation by drivers. The announcement of the guidelines comes just days after President Obama’s FY 2013 budget request, which includes $330 million over six years for distracted driving programs that increase awareness of the issue and encourage stakeholders to take action.
“Distracted driving is a dangerous and deadly habit on America’s roadways – that’s why I’ve made it a priority to encourage people to stay focused behind the wheel,” said Secretary LaHood. “These guidelines are a major step forward in identifying real solutions to tackle the issue of distracted driving for drivers of all ages.”
Geared toward light vehicles (cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, minivans, and other vehicles rated at not more than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight), the guidelines proposed today are the first in a series of guidance documents NHTSA plans to issue to address sources of distraction that require use of the hands and/or diversion of the eyes from the primary task of driving.
In particular, the Phase I proposed guidelines released today recommend criteria that manufacturers can use to ensure the systems or devices they provide in their vehicles are less likely to distract the driver with tasks not directly relevant to safely operating the vehicle, or cause undue distraction by engaging the driver’s eyes or hands for more than a very limited duration while driving. Electronic warning system functions such as forward-collision or lane departure alerts would not be subject to the proposed guidelines, since they are intended to warn a driver of a potential crash and are not considered distracting devices.
“We recognize that vehicle manufacturers want to build vehicles that include the tools and conveniences expected by today’s American drivers,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. “The guidelines we’re proposing would offer real-world guidance to automakers to help them develop electronic devices that provide features consumers want—without disrupting a driver’s attention or sacrificing safety.”
The proposed Phase I distraction guidelines include recommendations to:
- Reduce complexity and task length required by the device;
- Limit device operation to one hand only (leaving the other hand to remain on the steering wheel to control the vehicle);
- Limit individual off-road glances required for device operation to no more than two seconds in duration;
- Limit unnecessary visual information in the driver’s field of view;
- Limit the amount of manual inputs required for device operation.
The proposed guidelines would also recommend the disabling of the following operations by in-vehicle electronic devices while driving, unless the devices are intended for use by passengers and cannot reasonably be accessed or seen by the driver, or unless the vehicle is stopped and the transmission shift lever is in park.
- Visual-manual text messaging;
- Visual-manual internet browsing;
- Visual-manual social media browsing;
- Visual-manual navigation system destination entry by address;
- Visual-manual 10-digit phone dialing;
- Displaying to the driver more than 30 characters of text unrelated to the driving task.
NHTSA is also considering future, Phase II proposed guidelines that might address devices or systems that are not built into the vehicle but are brought into the vehicle and used while driving, including aftermarket and portable personal electronic devices such as navigation systems, smart phones, electronic tablets and pads, and other mobile communications devices. A third set of proposed guidelines (Phase III) may address voice-activated controls to further minimize distraction in factory-installed, aftermarket, and portable devices.
The Phase I guidelines were published in today’s Federal Register and members of the public will have the opportunity to comment on the proposal for 60 days. Final guidelines will be issued after the agency reviews and analyzes and responds to public input.
NHTSA will also hold public hearings on the proposed guidelines to solicit public comment. The hearings will take place in March and will be held in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington D.C.
To view today’s proposed electronic equipment guidelines, click here.
Airlines Post Best December On-Time Record, Lowest December Cancellation Rate in 17 Years
Department of Transportation / www.dot.gov
No Tarmac Delays Longer than Three Hours on Domestic Flights or Four Hours on International Flights in December
The nation’s largest airlines posted an on-time arrival record last December of 84.4 percent, the highest on-time percentage for any December during the 17 years the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has collected comparable flight delay data. According to DOT’s Air Travel Consumer Report, the carriers also had a 0.8 percent rate of canceled flights, the lowest December cancellation rate for the last 17 years.
The December on-time rate posted by the 16 reporting carriers was up from the 72.0 percent rate of December 2010, but down slightly from November 2011’s 85.3 percent, according to data filed with the Department’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). The carriers’ on-time percentage for all of 2011 was 79.6 percent, compared to 79.8 percent in 2010.
December’s 0.8 percent cancellation rate was down from December 2010’s 3.7 percent rate but up from November 2011’s 0.7 percent.
Airlines also reported no tarmac delays of more than three hours on domestic flights or more than four hours on international flights in December. The larger U.S. airlines have been required to report long tarmac delays on their domestic flights since October 2008. Under a new rule that took effect Aug. 23, 2011, all U.S. and foreign airlines operating at least one aircraft with 30 or more passenger seats must report lengthy tarmac delays at U.S. airports. Also beginning Aug. 23, carriers operating international flights may not allow tarmac delays at U.S. airports to last longer than four hours. There is a separate three-hour limit on tarmac delays involving domestic flights, which went into effect in April 2010. Exceptions to the time limits for both domestic and international flights are allowed only for safety, security or air traffic control-related reasons.
The monthly Air Travel Consumer Report also includes data on chronically delayed flights and the causes of flight delays filed with BTS by the reporting carriers. In addition, the report contains information on airline bumping, reports of mishandled baggage filed by consumers with the carriers and consumer service, disability and discrimination complaints received by DOT’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division. This report also includes reports of incidents involving pets traveling by air, as required to be filed by U.S. carriers. Calendar year 2011 data are contained in the report in a number of areas as well as data for December 2011.
Chronically Delayed Flights
At the end of December, there was one flight that was chronically delayed – more than 30 minutes late more than 50 percent of the time – for two consecutive months. No flights were chronically delayed for three consecutive months or more. A list of flights that were chronically delayed for a single month is available from BTS (www.bts.gov).
Causes of Flight Delays
In December, the carriers filing on-time performance data reported that 4.69 percent of their flights were delayed by aviation system delays, compared to 4.90 percent in November; 5.19 percent by late-arriving aircraft, compared to 4.72 percent in November; 4.46 percent by factors within the airline’s control, such as maintenance or crew problems, compared to 3.97 percent in November; 0.33 percent by extreme weather, compared to 0.26 percent in November; and 0.03 percent for security reasons, equal to 0.03 percent in November. Weather is a factor in both the extreme-weather category and the aviation-system category. This includes delays due to the re-routing of flights by DOT’s Federal Aviation Administration in consultation with the carriers involved. Weather is also a factor in delays attributed to late-arriving aircraft, although airlines do not report specific causes in that category.
Data collected by BTS also shows the percentage of late flights delayed by weather, including those reported in either the category of extreme weather or included in National Aviation System delays. In December, 34.60 percent of late flights were delayed by weather, down 5.64 percent from December 2010, when 36.67 percent of late flights were delayed by weather, and down 7.46 percent from November when 37.39 percent of late flights were delayed by weather.
Detailed information on flight delays and their causes is available on the BTS site on the World Wide Web at http://www.bts.gov.
Mishandled Baggage
The U.S. carriers reporting flight delays and mishandled baggage data posted a mishandled baggage rate of 3.37 reports per 1,000 passengers in December, down from December 2010’s rate of 4.72, but up from November 2011’s rate of 2.72. For all of last year, the carriers posted a mishandled baggage rate of 3.39 per 1,000 passengers, an improvement over 2010’s rate of 3.51.
Bumping
The report also includes airline reports of involuntary denied boarding, or bumping, for calendar year 2011 and the fourth quarter of last year. The 16 U.S. carriers who report on-time performance and mishandled baggage data posted a bumping rate of 0.81 per 10,000 passengers last year, down from the 1.09 rate posted in 2010. For the fourth quarter of last year, the carriers posted a bumping rate of 0.71 per 10,000 passengers, down from the 0.80 rate for the fourth quarter of 2010.
Incidents Involving Pets
In December, carriers reported five incidents involving the loss, death or injury of pets while traveling by air, down from the seven reports filed in December 2010, but up from November 2011’s total of two. December’s incidents involved three pet deaths, one pet injury, and one lost pet. For all of last year, carriers reported 35 pet deaths, nine pet injuries, and two lost pets. In 2010, carriers reported 39 pet deaths, 13 pet injuries, and five lost pets.
Complaints About Airline Service
In December, the Department received 710 complaints about airline service from consumers, down 6.1 percent from the 756 complaints received in December 2010, and down 18.7 percent from the total of 873 filed in November 2011. For all of last year, the Department received 11,545 complaints, 5.1 percent higher than the 10,988 complaints received in 2010.
Complaints About Treatment of Disabled Passengers
The report also contains a tabulation of complaints filed with DOT in December against airlines regarding the treatment of passengers with disabilities. The Department received a total of 58 disability-related complaints in December 2011, up from both the 38 disability complaints received in December 2010 and the total of 45 filed in November 2011. For all of last year, the Department received 630 disability complaints, up 10.1 percent from the total of 572 received in 2010.
Complaints About Discrimination
In December, the Department received seven complaints alleging discrimination by airlines due to factors other than disability – such as race, religion, national origin or gender – down from both the total of 14 filed in December 2010, and the nine discrimination complaints received in November 2011. For all of last year, the Department received 127 discrimination complaints, down 11.2 percent from the total of 143 filed in 2010.
Consumers may file their complaints in writing with the Aviation Consumer Protection Division, U.S. Department of Transportation, C-75, W96-432, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20590; by voice mail at (202) 366-2220 or by TTY at (202) 366-0511; or on the web at http://airconsumer.dot.gov.
Consumers who want on-time performance data for specific flights should call their airline’s reservation number or their travel agent. This information is available on the computerized reservation systems used by these agents. The information is also available on the appropriate carrier’s website.
The Air Travel Consumer Report can be found on DOT’s World Wide Web site at http://airconsumer.dot.gov. It is available in “pdf” and Microsoft Word format.
Facts
AIR TRAVEL CONSUMER REPORT
December 2011
KEY ON-TIME PERFORMANCE AND FLIGHT CANCELLATION STATISTICS
Based on Data Filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics
by the 16 Reporting Carriers
Overall
84.4 percent on-time arrivals
Highest On-Time Arrival Rates
1. AirTran Airways – 91.9 percent
2. Hawaiian Airlines – 91.0 percent
3. Delta Air Lines – 88.5 percent
Lowest On-Time Arrival Rates
1. Frontier Airlines – 73.2 percent
2. ExpressJet Airlines – 76.3 percent
3. Continental Airlines – 79.8 percent
Domestic Flights with Longest Tarmac Delays
There were no domestic flights with tarmac delays of more than three hours in December.
International Flights with Longest Tarmac Delays
There were no international flights with tarmac delays of more than four hours in December.
Highest Rates of Canceled Flights
1. SkyWest Airlines – 2.2 percent
2. ExpressJet Airlines – 1.5 percent
3. American Eagle Airlines – 1.2 percent
Lowest Rates of Canceled Flights
1. Hawaiian Airlines – 0.0 percent*
2. Frontier Airlines – 0.2 percent
3. JetBlue Airways – 0.2 percent
*Hawaiian Airlines canceled two flights in December.
CBP Officers Seize More Than $258k In Meth
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / www.cbp.gov
Nogales, AZ. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assigned to the Tucson Field Office seized nearly 17 pounds of methamphetamines Saturday valued at more than $258,000.
Officers working at the Mariposa Port referred a 22-year-old Nogales resident for a secondary inspection of his Toyota sedan when he attempted to enter the United States. After a CBP narcotics detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs, officers located 15 packages of methamphetamines inside the vehicle’s engine compartment. The drugs and vehicle were processed for seizure. The subject was arrested and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Individuals arrested are charged with a criminal complaint, which raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
CBP's Office of Field Operations is the primary organization within Homeland Security tasked with an anti-terrorism mission at our nation’s ports. CBP officers screen all people, vehicles and goods entering the United States while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. Their mission also includes carrying out border-related duties, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration and trade laws, and protecting the nation's food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.