The trade has submitted comments in response to the Food and Drug Administration’s request for input on its implementation of the import provisions of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The comments focus on the FSMA’s requirements for a Foreign Supplier Verification Program, a Voluntary Qualified Importer Program, the certification of certain high-risk imported food, third-party auditors and accreditation, and the two FSMA definitions of “importer.” In general, FDA was urged to set broad goals over prescriptive requirements, recognize risk, and clearly define requirements and terms.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection and two government ministries of China have reached agreement on collaborative actions to enhance trade security and facilitation between the two countries. The two countries also signed an action plan on supply chain security partnership programs.
The Counterfeit Pharmaceutical Inter-Agency Working Group1 has issued a report on U.S. Customs and Border Protection's and the Food and Drug Administration's increased enforcement actions against counterfeit pharmaceuticals in the supply chain, which include strategic import plans, penalties, and compliance measurement programs, among other things. The report also makes several legislative recommendations to Congress on how it can address this issue.
During recent trade events1, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials provided an update on both of CBP’s management by account pilots -- the Centers for Excellence and Expertise (CEE) pilot for the pharmaceutical industry and the Account Executive (AE) pilot for selected companies in the electronics industry.
Broker Power is providing readers with some of the top stories for April 18-22, 2011 in case they were missed last week.
During recent trade events1, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials provided an update on efforts to enhance intellectual property rights protection by engaging in (i) enhanced targeting; (ii) partnership programs; (iii) international collaboration and capacity building; (iv) the Pharmaceutical Center for Excellence and Expertise2, as well as well as by (v) issuing penalties.
On April 14, 2011, Senators Collins (R)1 and Murray (D) introduced the SAFE Port Reauthorization Act (S. 832) in order to allow DHS to waive the 100% scanning deadline for maritime cargo if several conditions are met, provide additional benefits to Tier 2 and 3 Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) participants, authorize CBP to conduct unannounced inspections of C-TPAT security measures, and require congressional notification of mutual recognition arrangements.
On April 14, 2011 at the annual U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Trade Symposium, U.S. Customs and Border Protection discussed supply chain security partnership programs, like the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), and its efforts to help other countries develop such programs.
Broker Power is providing readers with some of the top stories for April 11-15, 2011 in case they were missed last week.
On April 14, 2011 at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s annual Trade Symposium, the Director of Mexican Customs’ Secure Supply Chain Program discussed Mexico efforts to develop and pilot its Alliance for Secure Commerce (PACS, Programa Alianza para el Comercio Seguro), a supply chain security program. He also discussed Mexico’s Strategic Plan to fund infrastructure improvements.