The Consumer Product Safety Commission has posted an April 2010 Overview of the toxicity of dialkyl ortho-phthalates (O-DAPs), a class comprising about 30 commercial products. The overview is accompanied by detailed staff toxicity reviews of the six banned phthalates, as well as a contractor's report summarizing the toxicity of five phthalate substitutes. (Overview, posted 04/16/10, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/phthalover.pdf)

The International Trade Administration and the International Trade Commission have each issued notices initiating five-year Sunset Reviews of the following antidumping and countervailing duty orders:

The Food Safety Inspection Service is announcing the 2010 Meat and Poultry Inspection Seminars for International Officials. Seminars on U.S. inspection regulations and procedures will be held on the following dates/locations: May 18 - Jun 4, 2010 Mayaguez, PR, Aug 9 - Aug 20, 2010 Washington, DC, and Sep 13 - Oct 1, 2010 Washington, DC. (Schedule available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/2010_Meat_&_Poultry_Inspection_Seminars/index.asp )

The International Trade Administration is issuing a countervailing duty order on polyethylene retail carrier bags (PRCBs) from Vietnam (C-552-805).

On April 28, 2010, APHIS updated its PPQ Export Program Manual. This is an operational manual for Authorized Certification Officials to enable them to inspect and issue Federal Export Certificates for plants and plant products. The Manual also provides information that helps exporters meet the plant quarantine import requirements of foreign countries. (Manual, updated 04/28/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/domestic/xpm.shtml)

FSIS has provided updated information for the export of U.S. meat and poultry to the following country:

The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued updated (April 28, 2010) version of its list of Canada establishments eligible to export meat and poultry to the U.S. (List, updated 04/28/10, available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Canada_establishments.pdf)

The State Department has announced that the U.S., Canada and Mexico submitted a joint North American proposal on April 30, 2010 to phase down the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. (State release, dated 04/30/10, available at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/04/141074.htm)

On April 29, 2010, APHIS updated its Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Nursery Stock Restrictions Manual. This Manual summarizes the entry status of regulated plant materials capable of and intended for propagation. (Manual, updated 04/29/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/nursery_stock.pdf)

On April 28, 2010, APHIS updated the Manual for Agricultural Clearance. The manual provides CBP personnel working at airport and maritime locations with the guidelines, directions, and policy for clearing carriers and passengers/crew and controlling garbage and cargo. (Manual, updated 04/28/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/mac.shtml)