The Consumer Product Safety Commission has published notice of the following voluntary recalls:

The U.S. International Trade Commission has launched an investigation into the effects of market access measures and conditions of competition for U.S. agricultural exports to China. The investigation, China’s Agricultural Trade: Competitive Conditions and Effects on U.S. Exports, was requested by the Senate Finance Committee on April 1, 2010.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a notice seeking comments on the U.S. request for World Trade Organization dispute settlement consultations with the Philippines regarding its imposition of excise taxes on imported distilled spirits.

The Foreign Agricultural Service is withdrawing its January 2005 proposed rule to revise the Refined Sugar Re-export Program, the Sugar-containing Products Re-export Program, and the Polyhydric Alcohol Program under 7 CFR 1530, because market conditions have changed. FAS intends to publish an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on trade under the Sugar Re-export Program with Mexico. (FAS notice, FR Pub 05/04/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-10425.pdf)

The Food and Drug Administration has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to request data and information on the food¹ transportation industry and its practices. FDA is also requesting data and information on the contamination of transported foods and any associated outbreaks.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has released its 2010 “Special 301” annual report on the adequacy and effectiveness of intellectual property rights (IPR) protection by U.S. trading partners.

The State Department has announced that the U.S., Canada and Mexico submitted a joint North American proposal on April 30, 2010 to phase down the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. (State release, dated 04/30/10, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/04/141074.htm)

On April 28, 2010, APHIS updated its PPQ Export Program Manual. This is an operational manual for Authorized Certification Officials to enable them to inspect and issue Federal Export Certificates for plants and plant products. The Manual also provides information that helps exporters meet the plant quarantine import requirements of foreign countries. (Manual, updated 04/28/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/domestic/xpm.shtml)

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued updated (April 28, 2010) version of its list of Canada establishments eligible to export meat and poultry to the U.S. (List, updated 04/28/10, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Canada_establishments.pdf)

On April 28, 2010, APHIS updated the Manual for Agricultural Clearance. The manual provides CBP personnel working at airport and maritime locations with the guidelines, directions, and policy for clearing carriers and passengers/crew and controlling garbage and cargo. (Manual, updated 04/28/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/mac.shtml)