The Bureau of Industry and Security has posted a statement from Under Secretary of Commerce Mancuso regarding inaccuracies in the Washington Times article, "U.S. to Tighten Export Rules on 5 Firms in China." Mancuso discussed the Validated End User Program and the U.S.-China relationship. (Press release, dated 12/17/08, available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/news/2008/bis_press12172008.htm.)
The California Air Resource Board has issued a news release announcing that it has approved California's plan to reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Among other things, the plan proposes full deployment of the California Solar Initiative, high-speed rail, water-related energy efficiency measures and a range of regulations to reduce emissions from trucks and from ships docked at California's ports. (CARB news release, dated 12/11/08, available at http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/nr121108.htm)
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has posted its 2008 Performance and Accountability Report entitled, "Saving Lives and Keeping Families Safe." Highlights of the report are as follows:
The International Trade Data System has posted a presentation to its Web site on eCl@ss, a global standard for the classification and description of products and services. ITDS also posted its Product Information Committee's statement for eCl@ss. (ITDS presentation available at http://www.itds.gov/linkhandler/itds/tsn/product_info_comm/eclass_presentation.ctt/eclass_presentation.ppt)
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a final rule, effective December 3, 2008, amending the Iranian Transactions Regulations to expand the scope of Appendix A to Part 560 to include non-financial as well as financial institutions determined to be owned or controlled by the Government of Iran, and to add to the appendix three non-financial institutions that have been determined to be owned or controlled by the Government of Iran: The National Iranian Oil Company (aka NIOC), Naftiran Intertrade Company Ltd (aka NICO), and Naftiran Intertrade Co. (NICO) Sarl. (Final rule, FR Pub 12/04/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-28711.pdf.)
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a one-year progress report on its implementation of the Food Protection Plan.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation has issued a notice announcing that the Board of Directors of the MCC will hold a closed meeting on December 11, 2008 in Washington, DC. (D/N MCC FR 09-03, FR Pub 12/01/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-28482.pdf)
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has created a new Web Page for frequently asked questions related to the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) in which FAQs on a variety of topics are grouped in one place. (FAQ page available at http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/faq/faq.html)
The International Trade Data System has posted a presentation providing a global product classification context overview, which was given during the November 11, 2008 Product Information Committee meeting. (Presentation available at http://www.itds.gov/linkhandler/itds/tsn/product_info_comm/gpc_overview.ctt/gpc_overview.pdf.)
The Federal Maritime Commission has issued a notice adding the following item to the agenda for the open portion of its November 20, 2008 meeting: FY 2009 Budget Status Report. (FMC notice, FR Pub 11/19/08, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-27598.pdf.)