In the United States the following events have taken place under the several PGA during the month of December 2016.
| Agencies | Summary |
| Federal Register | Importing certain vehicles and engines under Clean Air Act: This document amends the U.S. CBP regulations regarding the importation into the United States of certain vehicles and engines under the Clean Air Act (CAA) in order to harmonize the documentation requirements applicable to different classes of vehicles and engines that are subject to the CAA’s emission standards. This document also amends the regulations to permit importers to file the required U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Declaration Forms with CBP electronically. It will be effective from January 26, 2017. See Details |
| TSCA chemical substance import certification process revisions: This document amends the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations regarding the requirement to file a Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) certification when importing into the customs territory of the U.S. chemicals in bulk form or as part of mixtures and articles containing a chemical or mixture. This document amends the regulations to establish an electronic option for importers to file the required U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) TSCA certifications. This will be effective on January 26, 2017. See Details |
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| Submission for OMB Review and comments: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USTPO) will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance of some proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act. This collection includes the information needed by the USPTO to review the various types of petitions regarding secrecy orders and to issue or revoke foreign filing licenses. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent on or before January 19, 2017. See Details |
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| Import restrictions imposed on certain archaeological material from Egypt: This final rule amends the U.S. CBP regulations to reflect the imposition of import restrictions on certain archaeological material from the Arab Republic of Egypt. It also amends CBP regulations by adding Egypt to the country list for which a bilateral agreement has been entered into for imposing cultural property import restrictions. The final rule includes the designated list that describes the types of archaeological material to which the restrictions apply. See Details |
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| Formaldehyde emission standards for composite wood products: This final rule includes formaldehyde emission standards applicable to hardwood plywood, medium-density fiberboard, and particleboard, and finished goods containing these products, that are sold, supplied, offered for sale, or manufactured (including imported) in the U.S.. This final rule includes provisions relating to laminated products, products made with no-added formaldehyde resins or ultra low-emitting formaldehyde resins, testing requirements, product labeling, chain of custody documentation and other record keeping requirements, enforcement, import certification, and product inventory sell-through provisions, including a product stockpiling prohibition. See Details |
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| Extension of import restrictions for archaeological and ethnological materials from Bolivia: This final rule amends the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations to reflect an extended date of import restrictions on certain archaeological and ethnological materials from the Plurinational State of Bolivia (Bolivia). The restrictions, which were originally imposed by Treasury Decision 01-86 and last extended by CBP from December 11, 2016 to December 24, 2016, are due to expire on December 4, 2016. See Details |
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| FSIS | FSIS notice 99-16 indicates the availability of revised FSIS Form 9135-3: Previously, Canada required a veterinary signature on FSIS Form 9135-3; however, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has confirmed that beginning from February 1, 2017, veterinary signature on FSIS Form 9135-3 will no longer require. Therefore, FSIS has revised the form to permit non-veterinary inspection program personnel (IPP) to sign the form for exports to Canada. This notice declares the upcoming availability of a revised FSIS Form 9135-3 regarding who can sign the new form. Starting from January 17, 2017, IPP that have the 2016 version of FSIS Form 9135-3 need to be contact to the Materials Management Service Center (MMSC) to obtain the new FSIS Form 9135-3. The 2016 edition will remain available from MMSC until January 12, 2017. See Details |
