The Census Bureau May 18 emailed tips on how to address the most frequent messages generated this month in the Automated Export System. Response code 138 is a fatal error for when the port of unlading code is missing. The code must be provided along with all vessel and air shipments between the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Census said users must report a valid port of unlading code -- which is for the foreign port where the exported merchandise is unloaded from the exporting carrier -- and resubmit.

The Environmental Protection Agency released a final rule May 5 setting new significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 13 chemical substances subject to Premanufacture Notices (PMNs), and a microorganism that was the subject of a Microbial Commercial Activity Notice (MCAN). As a result of the SNURs, persons planning to manufacture, import or process any of the chemical substances or microorganisms for an activity designated as a significant new use by this rule are required to notify EPA at least 90 days in advance. Importers of chemicals and microorganisms subject to these SNURs will need to certify their compliance with the SNUR requirements, and exporters of these chemical substances and microorganisms will now become subject to export notification requirements. The final rule takes effect July 6. The SNURs cover the following:

The Drug Enforcement Administration is listing four fentanyl-related substances -- fentanyl carbamate, ortho-fluoroacryl fentanyl, ortho-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl and para-fluoro furanyl fentanyl -- under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a final rule released May 3. The four substances had already been temporarily controlled under a 2018 order that's set to expire May 6 (see 2004090045). The permanent listing takes effect May 4. “The regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to schedule I controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, reverse distribute, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities or chemical analysis, or possess), or propose to handle any of these four specified fentanyl-related substances will continue to be applicable permanently as a result of this action.”

The Environmental Protection Agency released a final rule April 29 setting new significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for two chemical substances subject to premanufacture notices (PMNs), and a microorganism that was the subject of a Microbial Commercial Activity Notice (MCAN). As a result of the SNURs, persons planning to manufacture, import or process any of the chemical substances or microorganisms for an activity designated as a significant new use by this rule are required to notify EPA at least 90 days in advance. Importers of chemicals and microorganisms subject to these SNURs will need to certify their compliance with the SNUR requirements, and exporters of these chemical substances and microorganisms will now become subject to export notification requirements. The final rule takes effect June 29. The SNURs cover the following:

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new reporting requirements for three chemicals under significant new use rules, it said in a notice released April 29. The proposed SNURs would require notification to EPA at least 90 days in advance of a new use by importers, manufacturers or processors. Importers of chemicals subject to these proposed SNURs would need to certify their compliance with the SNUR requirements should these proposed rules be finalized, EPA said. Exporters of these chemicals would become subject to export notification requirements. Comments on the proposed SNURs are due by June 1. The SNURs would cover the following chemical substances:

The Census Bureau published an April 20 blog post on downloading data user and Automated Export System concordance files. The post provides guidance on the purposes and main differences between the types of files to ensure “valid export reporting.”

The Census Bureau April 20 emailed tips on how to address the most frequent messages generated this month in the Automated Export System. Response code 628 is a fatal error for when the unit of measure reported doesn’t match the unit of measure required for the Schedule B or “[Harmonized Traffic Schedule] number reported.” Census said users should verify the unit of measure required for the reported Schedule B/HTS Number, correct the shipment and resubmit. Response code 649 is another fatal error that involves shipping weights that are reported in kilograms. “When the Unit of Measure 1 requires kilograms, the first net quantity (Quantity 1) cannot exceed the Shipping Weight,” the agency said. “Ensure the Shipping weight includes the weight of the packaging materials.”

The Census Bureau issued guidance on correctly reporting the address for a U.S. Principal Party in Interest in the Automated Export System, including how to deal with various error codes. The blog post, published March 16, also details how AES verifies that filers report “valid” USPPI addresses, and answered other questions about the AES.

FDA seeks comments on its collections of information related to export certificate applications for FDA-regulated human food and cosmetic products, it said in a notice. Mostly requested electronically via the CFSAN Export Certification Application and Tracking System (CFSAN eCATS) or Certificate Application Process (CAP), the certificates may be required by foreign countries for goods exported from the U.S. to assure foreign regulators that the goods meet U.S. requirements. FDA seeks comments by May 17 on whether the information collections are necessary, how they can be improved, and how to minimize their burden.

CBP is trying to reduce the amount of time it spends searching through paper documents for automobile exports, Jim Swanson, director of the Cargo and Security Controls Division, for Cargo and Conveyance Security, CBP Office of Field Operations, said March 3 during an Airforwarders Association virtual event. CBP is testing use of the Document Image System for providing used-car titles within the Automated Export System, Swanson said. “The next phase of that, and one we are very close to and hopefully we'll start to see rollout this year, is an electronic process” that allows CBP to take information from AES and do a full title search, he said. “Then, and only then, if there are issues with that would we ask for additional information,” he said. The requirement to provide information within 72 hours of departure isn't going away, but this would allow the process to move along faster, he said. Swanson said that about 85% of all export resources CBP uses are involved in looking at used motor vehicle titles. CBP said it is planning to update AES to allow for integrated title searches this fall (see 2103030027).