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Recognition of Freedom From Citrus Longhorned Beetle and Asian Longhorned Beetle in Certain European Union Countries - Office of Federal Register

SUMMARY:

We are notifying the public that we propose to update the U.S. Department of Agriculture Plants for Planting Manual by recognizing 22 European Union Member States as being free from citrus longhorned beetle (CLB) and Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) and removing them from the list of countries where CLB and ALB are present. We would also change the entry conditions in the manual for imports of certain host plant taxa of CLB and ALB from four of these countries (Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom) because they have previously approved genera exempted from the category of plants Not Authorized Pending Pest Risk Analysis. These changes would relieve certain restrictions on host plants of CLB and ALB from Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom while continuing to mitigate the risk of introducing quarantine pests into the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the regulations in “Subpart H—Plants for Planting” (7 CFR 319.37-1 through 319.37-23, referred to below as the regulations), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits or restricts the importation of plants for planting (including living plants, plant parts, seeds, and plant cuttings) to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the United States. Quarantine pest is defined in § 319.37-2 as a plant pest or noxious weed that is of potential economic importance to the United States and not yet present in the United States, or present but not widely distributed and being officially controlled. In accordance with § 319.37-20, APHIS may impose quarantines and other restrictions on the importation of specific types of plants for planting. These restrictions are listed in the USDA Plants for Planting Manual.[1] Under § 319.37-20, if APHIS determines it is necessary to add, change, or remove restrictions on the importation of a specific type of plant for planting, we will publish in the Federal Register a notice that announces the proposed change to the manual and invites public comment.

The citrus longhorned beetle (CLB), Anoplophora chinensis (Forster), and the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky), are destructive polyphagous wood boring pests and are quarantine pests for the United States.

In 2012, the European Commission (EC) asked APHIS to recognize pest freedom from CLB and ALB in European Union (EU) Member States based on equivalence and provided APHIS with supporting information that included new regulatory requirements, emergency control measures, and movement control for both species.[2] In 2015, the EC revised their regulated CLB and ALB host list to include all the host genera of concern to APHIS.

Based on information provided by the EC, we prepared a commodity import evaluation document (CIED). In the CIED, we concluded that in accordance with international provisions [3] for recognition of pest free areas and areas of low prevalence, we would recognize specific EU Member States that are either free from both CLB and ALB or as having eradicated an infestation of these pests at least 3 years ago.
 
Accordingly, we propose to update the USDA Plants for Planting Manual by removing 22 EU Member States from the list of countries where CLB and ALB are present. However, although these countries are free of CLB and ALB, we note that this action changes the import requirements for host plants for these pests for only four of these countries: Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.[4] These are the only EU countries that have previously approved CLB and ALB host genera that are currently exempt from the category of plants Not Authorized Pending Pest Risk Analysis, or NAPPRA.

Read entire Document here


Federal Register Notices:

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of steel propane cylinders from China and Thailand that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value and subsidized by the government of China.

Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson, Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, and Jason E. Kearns voted in the affirmative.  Commissioner Meredith M. Broadbent did not participate in these investigations.

As a result of the USITC’s affirmative determinations, Commerce will issue antidumping and countervailing duty orders on imports of this product from China and antidumping duty orders on such imports from Thailand. 

The Commission’s public report Steel Propane Cylinders from China and Thailand (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-607 and 731-TA-1417 and 1419 (Final), USITC Publication 4938, August 2019) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available by August 26, 2019; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library.

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UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20436

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS
Steel Propane Cylinders from China and Thailand
Investigation Nos. 701-TA-607 and 731-TA-1417 and 1419 (Final)

Product Description:  Steel propane cylinders, used for the storage, transport, and dispensing of compressed or liquefied propane gas, are produced to meet the requirements of U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Specifications 4B, 4BA, or 4BW; Transport Canada Specification 4BM, 4BAM, or 4BWM; or United Nations pressure receptacle standard ISO 4706. Steel propane cylinders range from 2.5 pound nominal gas capacity (approximate 6 pound water capacity and approximate 4–6 pound tare weight) to 42 pound nominal gas capacity (approximate 100 pound water capacity and approximate 28–32 pound tare weight). Steel propane cylinders have two or fewer ports and may be imported assembled or unassembled (i.e., welded or brazed before or after importation), with or without all components (including collars, valves, gauges, tanks, foot rings, and overfill prevention devices), and coated or uncoated. Also included within the scope are drawn cylinder halves, unfinished propane cylinders, collars, and foot rings for steel propane cylinders.

Status of Proceedings:

1.   Type of investigation:  Final countervailing duty and antidumping investigations.
2.   Petitioners:  Worthington Industries Inc., Columbus, OH; and Manchester Tank and Equipment, Franklin, TN.
3.   USITC Institution Date:  May 22, 2018.
4.   USITC Hearing Date:  June 5, 2019.
5.   USITC Vote Date:  July 17, 2019.
6.   USITC Notification to Commerce Date:  August 5, 2019.

U.S. Industry in 2018:
1.   Number of U.S. producers:  2.
2.   Location of producers’ plants:  California, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas.
3.   Production and related workers:   [1]
4.   U.S. producers’ U.S. shipments:  1
5.   Apparent U.S. consumption:  1
6.   Ratio of subject imports to apparent U.S. consumption:  1

U.S. Imports in 2018:
1.   Subject imports:  1
2.   Nonsubject imports:  1
3.   Leading import sources:  China and Thailand.
  

[1] Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.


Plan, Prepare and Protect Your Pet Before, During and After an Emergency - Food & Drug Administration

When it comes to planning for emergencies, pet owners should consider their pets too. 

They make us laugh. They are usually waiting for us when we get home from work and school. They give us unconditional love. They are often our best friends. And they depend on us for everything: food, water, healthcare. They are our pets and part of the family.

Our pets also depend on us when emergency strikes. Are you ready with your pet preparedness plan?

Your Pet Preparedness Plan — Prepare Ahead for Your Pet’s Needs

When it comes to planning for emergencies, pet owners should consider their pets too. With some simple preparations now, you can make sure your pet will be protected, safe and healthy, during and after any emergency. In the middle of a disaster, or when you know one is imminent, you may not be able to prepare for the specific needs of your pet. Now is the time for pet preparedness planning, and here are some tips.
Stock at least a 1-week supply of food and fresh water on hand for your pet, as well as a 1-week supply of medication, if your pet takes medication.

Include copies of your pet’s vaccination records and other medical records in your pet preparedness kit. Include information about your pet’s insurance policy, if you have one.

Experts suggest that you also include photos of your pet to help others identify them in case you and your pet become separated.

How to Weather Emergencies With your Pet and How to Evacuate Safely if Necessary

If you experience an emergency like a hurricane or flood, bring your pet indoors as soon as local authorities say a storm is coming. Stay indoors, preferably in a room with few or no windows, until you know it’s safe.

Take your emergency kit and disaster supplies with you if you move from room to room.

If you need to evacuate your home, it is important to bring your pet with you. You can find out from your local emergency management agency which emergency shelters allow pets.

If you cannot take your pet when you evacuate and must leave them in your home, put a Rescue Alert Sticker on your door to let people know there is a pet inside.

Pet Preparedness for Large Pets and Smaller Pets, Like Fish

Having larger and smaller pets during an emergency can pose additional challenges. While dogs and cats are relatively easy to transport and evacuate to a shelter, what do you do with your horse, or fish that are in an aquarium or pond?

If you have large animals such as horses, cattle, sheep, goats or pigs on your property, make sure they all have some form of identification. Map out primary and secondary evacuation routes in advance and identify the vehicles or trailers that would be needed for transporting and supporting each type of animal. If you need to evacuate with larger animals, make sure that your emergency destination has food and water, as well as access to veterinary care and handling equipment. If you need to evacuate and cannot take your larger animals, you will need to decide how and where to move them to shelter or if it’s better to turn them outside.

There are some basic guidelines for dealing with fish in aquariums or ponds during a power outage. Experts recommend you do not feed your fish during a power outage. Most fish can survive days or even weeks without food. During the winter, if you lose power, you can insulate your aquarium with something like a blanket or newspapers. An alternate power source, like a generator, can run the heater, pump, and filter. If you must move your fish, you can use a heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag and fill the bag with one-third water and two-thirds air. Alternatively, you can use a bucket, tub, or large jar. It is important that you NOT release your pet fish into local waterways. Introducing non-native fish species is harmful to local waterways. If you cannot keep your fish because of an impending emergency, experts recommend taking them to a pet store.

Helping Your Pet Adjust After an Emergency

You and your pet have made it through the emergency, but your pet doesn’t seem normal and is displaying unexpected behaviors. Well-behaved pets may become aggressive or defensive after a major disruption in their lives, and it may take several weeks for them to return to normal. Keep an eye on your pet and give him or her plenty of time to rest; however, if your pet remains extremely anxious or has other behavioral or health problems afterward, contact your veterinarian.


Statement on the Agency's Actions to Tackle the Epidemic of Youth Vaping and Court Ruling on Application Submission Deadlines for Certain Tobacco Products, Including E-Cigarettes - Food & Drug Administration

Late last week, a U.S. District Court judge in Maryland issued a decision that, among other things, requires makers and importers of e-cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and certain other tobacco products like cigars, pipe tobacco and hookah to submit applications for their currently marketed products to the agency within 10 months.

This court decision comes at a time when I, like many others, are tremendously concerned about the rising use of e-cigarettes among our nation’s youth and especially the potential for them to become traditional cigarette smokers. We cannot allow the next generation of young people to become addicted to nicotine because of e-cigarettes. I am all too aware of the staggering toll inflicted on the public health by tobacco products. As someone who has dedicated my life to reducing the public health burden and suffering caused by cancer, the importance of preventing youth addiction to nicotine rings especially true to me.

The FDA stands ready to accelerate the review of e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products. And we remain committed to tackling the epidemic of youth vaping using all available regulatory tools at our disposal. We will continue to take vigorous enforcement actions aimed at ensuring e-cigarettes and other tobacco products aren’t being marketed to, or sold to, kids. We will continue expanding our highly successful education efforts, such as “The Real Cost” campaign, to educate youth about the dangers of using tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. And we will continue to implement the policies necessary to keep e-cigarettes and all tobacco products out of the hands of America’s kids.

Our ongoing oversight of e-cigarettes and other ENDS products is critical to our public health mission and, especially, to protecting kids from the dangers of nicotine and tobacco-related disease and death. The judge’s decision sets a rapid pace for the agency to receive and review applications to evaluate the public health benefits and harms of a product and ensure that any product authorized for marketing is appropriate for the protection of public health. Importantly, the judge recognized the agency’s work to provide a framework and clear guidance for companies seeking to market e-cigarette and ENDS products as they prepare their product applications.

Let me be clear with the tobacco industry: responsible manufacturers certainly don’t need to wait 10 months to act. We’ve outlined our recommendations for what the FDA expects to be included in e-cigarette premarket applications and have provided a number of other resources to aid industry in their submissions for other products and assist the agency in fulfilling its public health mandate. We encourage industry to use these resources now as a guide for their submissions to the agency.

Additionally, we will continue to take decisive action to address and mitigate the epidemic of youth e-cigarette use through compliance, education and enforcement. Notably, the agency remains committed to finalizing the compliance policy we proposed in March to limit youth access to flavored tobacco products like e-cigarettes and cigars as quickly as possible. Finalizing the compliance policy is one of the most critical public health steps that the FDA can take to curb youth vaping and address youth use of flavored cigars.

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