Food Safety, GSP, and Marine Insurance

FDA Issues First new Rules under Food Safety Modernization Act When? Both will go into effect on July 3, 2011


The first rule will enable FDA to detain food products that it has reason to believe are adulterated or misbranded for up to 20 calendar days with a possible 10 calendar days extension if needed to initiate legal action under section 304 or 302 of the FD&C Act(21U.S.C 332).

Read further details of this new rule published in the Federal Register by clicking on the link below:

The second rule will require anyone importing food into the U.S to inform FDA if any country has previously refused entry to the same product, including food for animals. This new reporting requirement will be administered through the FDA’s prior notice system, which is mainly performed by the Importers Customs Broker.

All commercial invoices will need to have a short statement saying : “This products has not been previously refused by any other country” or “ This product has been previously refused entry by name of country “ The Customs Brokers job will be to transmit said information as provided by the importer of record.

Read further details of this new rule published in the Federal Register by clicking on the link below:

For a list of the most recent Q&A’s on the FSMA act go to: www.fda.gov/FSMA

General System of Preferences (GSP)


In April, 2011, U.S Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, sent a letter to Congressional leaders urging them to reauthorize the General System of Preference, Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA) and the Trade Adjustment Assistant (TAA). If the lapse of this program is negatively affecting your business, we suggest that you contact your Congressional representatives and strongly urge them to renew the GSP system and to make that renewal retroactive.

Click the link below to locate your local representatives:

Marine Insurance


Did you know…..

That marine insurance is the oldest form of insurance, with its origins dating back to Greek and Roman traders in the Mediterranean?

Today, most common carriers have very limited liability to their customers in the event of loss or damage to cargo in transit. An all-risk insurance policy will cover your goods while they are out of your control, either in the air or on the water. If you are interested in the protection of an all-risk cargo insurance policy, please contact your Flegenheimer Customer Service representative for a free quote.