Port of NY/NJ New Year's Schedule
- All container terminals are CLOSED 1/1 & 1/2 except GCT Bayonne and PNCT, which will both be OPEN 1/2/17. Please plan accordingly.
CITES Trade Suspensions and the U.S. Importer or Exporter - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Background:
When a country fails to comply with certain measures to implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) that country may be subject to a CITES recommendation to suspend trade. Depending on the nature of the compliance issue, the recommendation may be to suspend trade in a particular species from that country, to suspend all commercial trade in CITES-listed species, or to suspend all trade in CITES-listed species with that country. Information regarding current trade suspensions is available on the CITES website (www.cites.org).
The U.S. Endangered Species Act prohibits trade (import, export, re-export and introduction from the sea) in any specimens contrary to the provision of CITES. Article VIII of CITES requires that countries take appropriate measures to enforce the provisions of the Convention and to prohibit trade in specimens in violation of the Convention. As a party to CITES, the United States is committed to the implementation of the Convention, including enforcement of trade suspensions.
Basis for CITES Recommendations to Suspend Trade:
- Recommendations to suspend trade in a particular species – Recommendations to suspend trade made under the CITES Review of Significant Trade are species specific and only involve trade covered by Article IV of the Convention (i.e. the import, export, re-export, or introduction from the sea of specimens of species included in Appendix II), and not Article VII (e.g., trade in specimens that qualify for certain exemptions including, specimens of animal species bred in captivity or of plant species propagated artificially). Under a trade suspension as a result of the Review of Significant Trade, we will prohibit import of the specific Appendix II species from the identified country except for specimens that meet the exemptions under Article VII for personal or household effects (50 CFR §23.15), artificial propagation (§23.40), bred-in-captivity (§23.41), pre-Convention (§23.45), registered scientific institution (§23.48) or traveling exhibitions (§23.49).
- Recommendations to suspend all trade in CITES species – These country-specific suspensions may result from a variety of compliance issues, including failure to submit required annual reports (50 CFR§23.26(c)(2)) or failure to enact national legislation to implement the Convention. Under these suspensions, we will prohibit CITES trade with the identified country. Based on the details of the Notification to the Parties recommending the suspension, the scope of the suspension can include all trade, or narrowed down to all commercial trade.
Anyone wishing to trade in CITES specimens should regularly review the CITES website for current trade suspension information [https://cites.org/eng/resources/ref/suspend.php]. This webpage also provides the link to the actual Notification to the Parties that outlines the scope of the trade restrictions (i.e. species specific, all trade, commercial trade only, etc.). Trade suspensions are withdrawn as soon as a country resolves the issues that resulted in the recommendation to suspend trade (e.g., submits overdue annual reports, implements recommendations under the Review of Significant Trade, adopts appropriate measures to implement the Convention, etc.).
Action: All shipments or specimens traded in contravention to CITES are subject to seizure and forfeiture.
Changes to CITES Species Listings - Fish & Wildlife Service
See pdf document: Changes to CITES Species Listings
OTEXA: Textile & Apparel Announcments - International Trade Administration
12/29/2016 - In preparation for its annual review of countries’ protection of intellectual property rights, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) requests written comments regarding countries that deny adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) or deny fair and equitable market access to U.S. persons. See Federal Register (81 FR 95722) 2017 Special 301 Review: Identification of Countries Under Section 182 of the Trade Act of 1974. Written comments and notices of intent to appear at the public hearing are due by February 9, 2017.
Miami Marine Terminal Conference Agreement to Go Into Force - The Federal Maritime Commission
An agreement between two marine terminal companies located at the Port of Miami will go into force on December 31, 2016, permitting those parties to seek cooperation and commonality in both business and operating matters.
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) voted today not to prevent the "Miami Marine Terminal Conference Agreement" from taking effect.
The South Florida Container Terminal and the Port of Miami Terminal Operating Company filed their agreement on November 16, 2016. Under the terms of their agreement, the companies may establish a variety of common rates, rules, and practices as well as to meet to discuss these matters.
"These two facilities are located in very close proximity to one another and allowing the entities that operate them the ability to communicate on a number of different topics creates an opportunity to achieve efficiencies that potentially can benefit both the Port of Miami and the shipping public more broadly," stated Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Mario Cordero.
While discussion agreements among ocean carriers are commonly filed at the FMC, agreements between terminal operating companies have been less common to date.
"We are always interested in receiving well-crafted proposals that seek discussion agreement authority that is narrowly tailored to achieve efficiencies," said Cordero.
The Federal Maritime Commission is responsible for regulating the Nation’s international ocean transportation for the benefit of exporters, importers, and the American consumer. The Commission’s mission is to foster a fair, efficient, and reliable international ocean transportation system while protecting the public from unfair and deceptive practices.
Sodium Warning Labels for Chain Restaurants - New York Health
High Sodium Warning Labels: Why it Matters
Warning: 
indicates that the sodium (salt) content of this item is higher than the total daily recommended limit (2,300 mg). High sodium intake can increase blood pressure and risk of heart disease and stroke.
Commission Approves Pact for Port’s Largest Terminal - Port of Long Beach
New agreement replaces business, speeds crane improvements
New cargo business is coming to the Port of Long Beach’s largest terminal thanks to Harbor Commission approval Wednesday of an agreement replacing a vessel operator that declared bankruptcy.
The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners greenlighted the move by a subsidiary of Mediterranean Shipping Co., one of the world’s largest vessel operators, to take over sole control of the long-term lease of the Port’s 381-acre Pier T container terminal. Previously, MSC held a minority stake in the lease for Pier T, where more than a quarter of the Port’s container cargo is moved.
The Harbor Commission’s new agreement with MSC subsidiary Terminal Investment Limited (TIL) also guarantees the accelerated installation of ship-to-shore cranes capable of handling the world’s biggest container ships.
TIL is taking control from Hanjin Shipping, a South Korean ocean carrier that declared bankruptcy on Aug. 31 of this year. In 2015, Hanjin accounted for about 12 percent of the containers that moved through Long Beach.
Board of Harbor Commissioners President Lori Ann Guzmán said that while Hanjin’s bankruptcy was unfortunate, the approved agreement is a worthy deal to bring steady business to one of the country’s premier container terminals.
“This decision comes at a crucial time. With all of the changes that have taken place in the shipping industry in recent years, certainty is very important,” Guzmán said. “Although we regret the loss of a long-term partner in Hanjin Shipping, we look forward to the opportunities that Terminal Investment Limited, Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hyundai Merchant Marine and their ‘2M Alliance’ partners will bring to Long Beach.”
Terminal Investment Limited earlier this week announced it had signed an agreement to purchase Hanjin Shipping’s stake in the terminal operator at Pier T. The South Korean bankruptcy court sought approval from U.S. authorities, including the Port of Long Beach.
Total Terminals International (TTI), the terminal operating company for Hanjin Shipping, signed a 25-year lease to operate Pier T in Long Beach in August 2002. In 2012, MSC bought a minority share of the Total Terminals lease at Pier T. The new pact would also require installation of two new cranes capable of handling container ships with capacities of 20,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), within three years.
Philadelphia CBP Intercepts Destructive MedFly in Moroccan Clementine Shipment - U.S. Customs & Border Protection
PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently confirmed that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists intercepted one of the world’s most destructive agricultural pests, the Mediterranean fruit fly, in a shipment of Moroccan clementines in Camden, N.J., on December 14.
Ceratitis capitata, commonly known as the Mediterranean fruit fly, or medfly for short, is a species of fruit fly capable of causing extensive damage to a wide range of fruit crops. It is native to the Mediterranean area, but has spread invasively to many parts of the world, including Australasia and North and South America. The female medfly attacks ripening fruit, piercing the soft skin and laying eggs in the puncture. The eggs hatch into larvae (maggots) that feed inside the fruit pulp and make the fruit inedible.
CBP agriculture specialists discovered one live larvae among many dead larvae when they inspected a sampling from nearly 105,000 cases of Moroccan clementines destined to U.S. markets. CBP immediately quarantined the entire shipment and submitted the larvae specimen to the USDA entomologist for identification.
The local entomologist identified the larvae on December 15 as being from the tribe Cerititini, of the medfly family. A national USDA lab identified the specimen on December 19 as Ceratitis capitata, or medfly.
“Given that the Mediterranean fruit fly is one of the world’s most destructive agriculture pests, this is an extremely important find,” said Kevin Donohue, CBP’s Acting Port Director for the Area Port of Philadelphia. “If Mediterranean fruit fly were to take hold in the United States, the estimated agricultural and economic loss would be devastating. Safeguarding America’s agriculture industries remains an enforcement priority for CBP, and it’s a mission that we take very seriously.”
The importer was permitted to ship the affected U.S.-bound clementines to Canada.
In 1989, the state of California sustained billions of dollars in losses due to an infestation of medfly, that impacted the world's fifth largest supplier of food and agriculture commodities.
CBP Agriculture Specialists have extensive training and experience in the biological sciences and agricultural inspection. On a typical day nationally, they inspect over 1 million people as well as air and sea cargo imported to the United States and intercept 4,657 prohibited meat, plant materials or animal products, including 464 agriculture pests and diseases.
Learn more about CBP’s agriculture protection mission.
Food and Water Safety During Power Outages and Floods - Food & Drug Administration
Emergencies can happen, especially with extreme weather conditions. When they do, the best strategy is to already have a plan in place. This includes knowing the proper food safety precautions to take before, during, and after a power outage — and being prepared to safely handle food and water in the event that flooding occurs.
Note: Your local officials will notify you of any evacuations or states of emergency.
Prepare Yourself Before Power Emergencies
1. Make sure you have appliance thermometers in your refrigerator and freezer.
- Check to ensure that the freezer temperature is at or below 0° F, and the refrigerator is at or below 40° F.
- In case of a power outage, the appliance thermometers will indicate the temperatures in the refrigerator and freezer to help you determine if the food is safe.
2. Freeze containers of water for ice to help keep food cold in the freezer, refrigerator, or coolers in case the power goes out. If your normal water supply is contaminated or unavailable, the melting ice will also supply drinking water.
3. Freeze refrigerated items such as leftovers, milk, and fresh meat and poultry that you may not need immediately. This helps keep them at a safe temperature longer.
4. Group food together in the freezer. This helps the food stay cold longer.
5. Have coolers on hand to keep refrigerated food cold if the power will be out for more than 4 hours.
6.Purchase or make ice cubes in advance, and freeze gel packs ahead of time. Store all of these in the freezer for future use in the refrigerator or in coolers.
7. Check out local sources to know where dry ice and block ice can be purchased, in case it should be needed.
8. Store food on shelves that will be safely out of the way of contaminated water in case of flooding.
9. Make sure to have a supply of bottled water stored where it will be as safe as possible from flooding. If your bottled water has an odor, do not drink or use it. Instead, dispose of it, or if applicable, call your bottled water provider to make arrangements to get a replacement.
During an emergency, if you use food or beverage containers to hold non-food substances like gasoline, dispose of them after use and do not recycle them.
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