U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a revised version of its May 2010 frequently asked questions document regarding containers considered to be instruments of international traffic (IIT) that are imported into the U.S. with residue of bulk products.
On December 8, 2010, the House made minor amendments and passed the Senate’s version of food safety legislation, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, which would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) to improve the safety of the food supply. The act includes new importer requirements and fees, certification for high risk food imports, verification of foreign suppliers, etc.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is announcing that the following Customs broker licenses, as well as any and all permits, have been cancelled without prejudice:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is announcing that the following Customs Broker license and all associated permits are revoked with prejudice:
In its ACE Trade Account Owner November 2010 Update, U.S. Customs and Border Protection states that it is still looking for early adopters to participate in the M1 pilot (e-Manifest: Ocean and Rail).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a CSMS message announcing that it has posted another set of revised draft Implementation Guidelines (IGs) for the ACE deployment of e-Manifest: Ocean and Rail (M1).
In October 2010, U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a proposed rule that would amend 19 CFR 111.24 to allow customs brokers to disclose certain information regarding client (importer) records under certain conditions. Comments on the proposed rule are due by December 27, 2010.
Private equity firms are willing to finance the purchase of TV stations by companies run by veteran broadcast executives, as sharply reduced lending by banks has left few other ways to pay for mergers and acquisitions, said a top industry broker and one such broadcaster. They said the continued dearth of bank financing for radio and TV station M&A means operators either need to finance deals themselves with cash on hand or find private-equity partners. The broadcaster that broke a drought in purchases of Big Four network affiliated TV stations (CD Nov 5 p11) got such private equity backing, its chairman said.
The Senate has agreed to a November 29, 2010 cloture vote1 on a Senator Harkin (D) amendment in the nature of a substitute2 of S. 510, a bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the safety of the food supply.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection sources have announced that the pass rate for the October 2010 customs broker license exam was 29%.