News from Fish & Wildlife, Customs, and the USDA
Fish & Wildlife News
New Fees
On January 1st, 2011 the Department of The Interior Fish & Wildlife Services will be implementing new inspection fees. These changes can be viewed at this link.
Customs News
Permissible Sharing of Client Records by Customs Brokers
At Flegenheimer International we understand the importance of keeping our customers information secure. We keep all of our customer’s information confidential. There is a new proposal from CBP to amend the regulations regarding confidentiality and we wanted to share it with you.
SUMMARY: This document proposes to amend Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations in title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) pertaining to the obligations of customs brokers to keep clients’ information confidential. The proposed amendment would allow brokers, upon the client’s consent in a written authorization, to share client information with affiliated entities related to the broker so that these entities may offer non-customs business services to the broker’s clients. The proposed amendment would also allow customs brokers to use a third-party to perform photocopying, scanning, and livery of client records for the broker. These proposed changes are intended to update the regulation to reflect modern business practices, while protecting the confidentiality of client (importer) information. In addition, the proposed changes would align the regulations with CBP’s previously published rulings concerning brokers’ confidentiality of client information.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 27, 2010.
USDA News
Change in disease status of Japan because of foot and mouth disease
USDA is amending the regulations governing the importation of certain animal’s meat and other animal products from Japan. The animal and plant health inspection Service has issued an interim rule which amends the regulations governing the importation of certain animals meat and other animal produce by removing Japan from the list of regions considered to be free of foot and mouth disease (FMD) and also from the list of FMD-free regions that are subject to certain import restrictions on meat and meat products because of their proximity to or trading relationships with FMD- or rinderpest-affected countries.
This action restricts the importation of ruminants and swine and the fresh meat and other animal products of ruminants and swine from that country. According to APHIS, the interim rule went into effect on October 25, 2010 the restriction is being imposed retroactively to April 20, 2010. Some additional information can be obtained by viewing this link.