The Census Bureau updated the Schedule B and Harmonized Tariff Schedule tables in the Automated Export System to “accept changes” to the new Jan. 1 codes, the Census Bureau said in a Dec. 30 email. Census said AES will accept shipments with “outdated codes” during a 30-day grace period beyond the Dec. 31 expiration date, but reporting an outdated code after the grace period will result in a “fatal error.” Census also said it updated the Automated Commercial Environment AESDirect program with the 2021 codes, adding the program will also accept outdated codes during the grace period.

The Bureau of Industry and Security December rule (see 2012220053) that removed Hong Kong as a separate destination under the Export Administration Regulations has implications for EAR requirements but does not impact certain Census Bureau reporting requirements, Census said. In a Dec. 29 email to industry, Census said the BIS rule does not change Census' Foreign Trade Regulations ultimate consignee, country of destination and intermediate consignee reporting requirements, which contribute to certain trade statistics.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing to list PMK glycidate, PMK glycidic acid, precursors used in the manufacture of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (also known as ecstasy), as well as alpha-phenylacetoacetamide (APAA), a precursor used to make amphetamine and methamphetamine, as schedule II substances under the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a notice released Dec. 18. “If finalized, this action would subject handlers (manufacturers, distributors, importers, and exporters) of PMK glycidate, PMK glycidic acid, and APAA to the chemical regulatory provisions of the CSA and its implementing regulations,” DEA said. Comments are due Feb. 19, 2021.

The Environmental Protection Agency released a final rule Dec. 4 setting new significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for six chemical substances subject to premanufacture notices (PMNs). As a result of the SNURs, persons planning to manufacture, import or process any of the chemical substances for an activity designated as a significant new use by this rule are required to notify EPA at least 90 days in advance. Importers of chemicals subject to these SNURs will need to certify their compliance with the SNUR requirements, and exporters of these chemical substances will now become subject to export notification requirements. The final rule takes effect Feb. 5. The SNURs cover the following chemical substances:

The Drug Enforcement Administration permanently placed the synthetic opioids cyclopentyl fentanyl, isobutyryl fentanyl, para-chloroisobutyryl fentanyl, para-methoxybutyryl fentanyl and valeryl fentanyl into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, in a final rule published Nov. 25. The substances had been temporarily listed in Schedule I since 2018. The final rule takes effect Nov. 25.

The Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) for CBP will next meet remotely on Dec. 16, CBP said in a notice. Comments are due in writing by Dec. 15.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU and the U.S. should work together to set rules on carbon pricing, 5G, 6G, artificial intelligence, intellectual property rights and forced technology transfer so that others don't make the rules, and they have to live with them. At the Council on Foreign Relations webinar Nov. 20, von der Leyen said managing 5G isn't just about security of hardware or software, “it is also about our values and our democracies.” She said the Trans-Atlantic Partnership should address “the illiberal use of these technologies by China and others.”

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new reporting requirements for two chemicals under significant new use rules, it said in a notice released Nov. 13. The proposed SNURs would require notification to EPA at least 90 days in advance of a new use by importers, manufacturers or processors. Importers of chemicals subject to these proposed SNURs would need to certify their compliance with the SNUR requirements should these proposed rules be finalized, EPA said. Exporters of these chemicals would become subject to export notification requirements. Comments on the proposed SNURs are due by Dec. 16. The SNURs would cover the following chemical substances:

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new reporting requirements for five chemicals under significant new use rules, it said in a notice released Oct. 19. The proposed SNURs would require notification to EPA at least 90 days in advance of a new use by importers, manufacturers or processors. Importers of chemicals subject to these proposed SNURs would need to certify their compliance with the SNUR requirements should these proposed rules be finalized, EPA said. Exporters of these chemicals would become subject to export notification requirements. Comments on the proposed SNURs are due Nov. 19. The SNURs would cover the following chemical substances:

The Fish and Wildlife Service on Oct. 14 released a final rule reclassifying the American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus), a carrion beetle native to most of the U.S., as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The species had been listed as endangered. Though the agency recently ended blanket import-export restrictions for threatened species, FWS is including a 4(d) rule that prohibits imports and exports without a permit. The agency's final rule takes effect Nov. 16.