The Census Bureau updated a Port of Export Code in the Automated Export System, the agency said in a July 14 email to industry. The update added air travel -- along with vessel -- as an allowed mode of transportation for the Sault Sainte Marie port in Michigan (Port Code 3803).

Several changes to Schedule B numbers took effect July 1 as part of the International Trade Commission’s mid-year update of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (see 2107060053). According to the Census Bureau’s list of obsolete codes, new Schedule B numbers were created for protein concentrates and protein isolates, including pea protein and textured soy protein concentrates and isolates, as well as soy and wheat protein isolates. New numbers were also created for N95 respirator and other face masks, as well as aluminum plates, sheets and strip made to various specifications. Finally, new Schedule B breakouts were also added for “sound suppressors, silencers, mufflers and similar devices” of shotguns, rifles and other military weapons.

The FDA seeks more comments on its collections of information related to export certificates for FDA-regulated human food and cosmetic products, it said in a notice released July 9. Mostly requested electronically via the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Export Certification Application and Tracking System or Certificate Application Process, the certificates may be required by foreign countries for goods exported from the U.S. to assure foreign regulators that the products meet U.S. requirements. The FDA seeks comments by Aug. 9 on the information collection, including a reduction by the agency in the estimated burden of the process on exporters.

The Drug Enforcement Administration placed para-methoxymethamphetamine (PMMA), a drug similar to methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) that is also sold as “ecstasy,” into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, in a final rule released June 24. “This action imposes the regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to schedule I controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities or chemical analysis, or possess), or propose to handle PMMA,” DEA said. The final rule takes effect July 26.

The Census Bureau June 22 emailed tips on how to address the most frequent messages generated this month in the Automated Export System. Response code 538 is a fatal error for when the shipping weight wasn’t reported but the mode of transportation code “identified” a vessel, rail, truck or air shipment. Census said users should verify both the mode of transport and shipping weight, correct the shipment and resubmit.

CBP’s Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee will receive several export modernization recommendations in a white paper expected to be presented during the COAC’s June 23 meeting (see 2106070033), the group said. The “Export Operations for the 21st Century” white paper, presented by the Secure Trade Lanes Subcommittee’s Export Modernization Work Group, will “lay out a strategy and roadmap for the next phase of the export process.” It will also outline where export data “actually originates,” who owns that data and how it should be used for export enforcement, the subcommittee said.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is removing the Kanab ambersnail (Oxyloma haydeni kanabensis), a snail found in Utah and Arizona, from the Endangered Species List, it said in a final rule released June 17. “Our review indicates that the Kanab ambersnail is not a valid subspecies and therefore cannot be listed as an endangered entity under the Endangered Species Act,” FWS said. The delisting takes effect July 19.

The Environmental Protection Agency will allow submission of Toxic Substances Control Act notifications for chemical exports, it said in a notice. Beginning June 14, the agency will allow submissions required under TSCA Section 12(b) through its Central Data Exchange document submission system, it said. Export notifications will still be allowed in hard-copy form.

The Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) for CBP will next meet remotely June 23, CBP said in a notice. Comments are due in writing by June 22.

The Census Bureau May 18 emailed tips on how to address the most frequent messages generated this month in the Automated Export System. Response code 138 is a fatal error for when the port of unlading code is missing. The code must be provided along with all vessel and air shipments between the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Census said users must report a valid port of unlading code -- which is for the foreign port where the exported merchandise is unloaded from the exporting carrier -- and resubmit.