TUCSON, Ariz. -- Implementation of new trade enforcement provisions of recently passed customs reauthorization legislation will not result in an overall increase in cargo exams, said CBP officials speaking April 19 at the annual conference of the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America. Though CBP is focused on creating its new Trade Law Enforcement Division tasked with issuing trade alerts (see 1602230080), as well as implementing new programs to apply risk assessments (see 1602170074), the agency’s overall goal is better targeted exams, not more of them, they said.
The Email Privacy Act (HR-699), which would require that law enforcement agencies get a warrant in all instances to access an American's private emails and other stored electronic content during criminal investigations, heads to a floor vote after a bipartisan House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved a substitute amendment from Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., at a markup Wednesday. Committee members didn't introduce any other amendment, approving HR-699 28-0.
The Email Privacy Act (HR-699), which would require that law enforcement agencies get a warrant in all instances to access an American's private emails and other stored electronic content during criminal investigations, heads to a floor vote after a bipartisan House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved a substitute amendment from Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., at a markup Wednesday. Committee members didn't introduce any other amendment, approving HR-699 28-0.
The Email Privacy Act (HR-699), which would require that law enforcement agencies get a warrant in all instances to access an American's private emails and other stored electronic content during criminal investigations, heads to a floor vote after a bipartisan House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved a substitute amendment from Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., at a markup Wednesday. Committee members didn't introduce any other amendment, approving HR-699 28-0.
The FCC proposal to impose stricter privacy rules on ISPs would create an uneven playing field, favoring edge providers like Google and Amazon, doesn't use an economic approach and needlessly would impose heavy security requirements to protect customer information that is essentially public, panelists at a Technology Policy Institute discussion said Monday. But Lisa Hone, FCC associate Wireline Bureau chief, said the FCC NPRM is still just a proposal. The commission expects "vigorous comment," she said. "From a staff perspective, we’re interested in hearing what works and what doesn’t work for customers and ISPs."
The FCC proposal to impose stricter privacy rules on ISPs would create an uneven playing field, favoring edge providers like Google and Amazon, doesn't use an economic approach and needlessly would impose heavy security requirements to protect customer information that is essentially public, panelists at a Technology Policy Institute discussion said Monday. But Lisa Hone, FCC associate Wireline Bureau chief, said the FCC NPRM is still just a proposal. The commission expects "vigorous comment," she said. "From a staff perspective, we’re interested in hearing what works and what doesn’t work for customers and ISPs."
Being able to file a single customs declaration for all imports or exports in a given period is one of the few currently discernible benefits that companies would enjoy after implementation of a bilateral trusted trader framework pitched by the European Union in a proposal released March 21 on customs provisions in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (here), industry executives said in interviews over the past week. In addition to the single customs declaration, the proposal lists low documentary and data requirements, low physical inspection rate, and deferred duty payments as required trusted trader benefits, as well as provisions on customs single windows, though it lacks specifics on an EU de minimis increase.
The Food Safety Inspection Service recently provided guidance on procedures and requirements for importing egg products, in a letter to importers and customs brokers dated April 4 (here). The agency said it has seen a recent uptick in attempted imports of egg products from ineligible sources, possibly as a result of the effect highly-pathogenic avian influenza has had on the U.S. egg industry. FSIS has also seen an increase in egg products from ineligible countries or under incorrect product names, it said. The letter provides guidance on egg products under FSIS jurisdiction, misbranded egg products, foreign country eligibility, the import process, and enforcement provisions for ineligible or misbranded egg products that are not presented for reinspection.
The Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee will next meet April 27 in Washington, D.C., CBP said in a notice (here).
The Federal Maritime Commission should go beyond its proposal in relaxing filing requirements for non-vessel operating common carrier service arrangements, said the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America in March 30 comments to the agency (here). The FMC asked for public comments on proposed changes (see 1602290029) to allow "a service contract amendment to be filed individually and sequentially within 30 days of its effectiveness" or "any number of service contract amendments to be consolidated into a single document, but filed within 30 days of the effective date of the earliest of all amendments contained in the document." The NCBFAA said it does not consider the proposals far reaching enough to provide relief for the NVOCC industry. Instead, the FMC should remove the filing and essential terms publication requirements altogether, it said.