The Drug Enforcement Administration is finalizing controls on benzylfentanyl and 4-anilinopiperidine and their amides, carbamates and salts as list I chemicals under the Controlled Substances Act. The two chemicals are used in the manufacture of fentanyl, DEA said. DEA is not setting a threshold for domestic and international transactions for these chemicals, so all transactions of chemical mixtures containing benzylfentanyl or 4-anilinopiperidine will be regulated at any concentration and will be subject to control under the CSA, the agency said. The final rule takes effect May 15.

The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America seeks clarification from CBP on a number of issues related to implementation of a ban on exports of personal protective equipment (PPE) recently announced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (see 2004080018), according to an NCBFAA letter dated April 10. The letter includes questions on the scope of the FEMA notice, including the application of the ban to bonded transactions like warehouse withdrawals and goods in foreign-trade zones, as well as procedures for handling exports of covered PPE, such as processes for requesting FEMA authorization and contact information for FEMA. The letter also requests information on forwarder responsibilities under the policy and forwarder liability for detained PPE shipments. At least one of the questions, on whether the ban applies to exports to Canada and Mexico, was answered by an internal CBP memo dated April 9 that said exports to the two countries are exempt (see 2004090069).

The Drug Enforcement Administration is extending its listing of all “fentanyl-related substances” to Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said. The agency's temporary scheduling order, which covers “any substance not otherwise controlled in any schedule,” including substances not yet developed as of publication of DEA's notice, “that is structurally related to fentanyl” in certain ways, had been set to expire Feb. 6, 2020. But a law passed that day extended the temporary listing until May 6, 2021, the DEA said.

The Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) for CBP will next meet April 15, remotely, beginning at 1 p.m., CBP said in a notice. Comments are due in writing by April 14.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is “trying to assess” the impact on its export certification activities of recent decisions by states to close non-essential businesses, the agency said, according to a March 23 update from the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America. “As of now, we do not have any impacts identified,” APHIS said, as relayed by the NCBFAA. But inquiries on operating status should be directed to local businesses or APHIS offices for the most up-to-date information, it said. “The situation is fluid and we will provide guidance if anything changes,” APHIS said.

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new reporting requirements for three chemicals under significant new use rules. The proposed SNURs would require notification to EPA at least 90 days in advance of a new use by importers, manufacturers or processors. Importers of chemicals subject to these proposed SNURs would need to certify their compliance with the SNUR requirements should these proposed rules be finalized, EPA said. Exporters of these chemicals would become subject to export notification requirements. Comments on the proposed SNURs are due April 17.

The Automated Export System will add 13 new Export Control Classification Numbers to its reference table to allow exporters to report electronic export information in the wake of the transfer of export controls over firearms from the State Department to the Commerce Department (see 2001170030 and 2003090029), the Census Bureau said in a notice emailed March 11. The notice contains instructions for determining which new ECCNs are eligible for certain license types. Census also clarified that by using any of the license exceptions or “No License Required,” exporters “are certifying that the terms, provisions, and conditions described in the [Export Administration Regulations] have been met.”

CBP won't hold the 2020 Trade Symposium March 10-11, the agency said on March 4. “Given the number of cancellations received by trade partners and attendees and the more than two-dozen company travel restrictions that would impact the number of those able to participate, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has made the difficult decision to postpone the 2020 Trade Symposium,” it said on its website. “The intent of the symposium is to educate and update the attendees on CBP’s trade priorities. We believe that postponing the event to maximize attendance is the most beneficial course of action at this time.” CBP plans to process registration fee refunds shortly, it said.

CBP designated the Port of Ysleta, in El Paso, Texas, as port code 2401, the agency said in a Feb. 25 CSMS message. Starting on March 1, “all E-manifests making arrival into the U.S. via the Port of Ysleta are required to use port code 2401,” it said. But “Entry and Entry Summary transmissions will continue to utilize the port code 2402 (El Paso), as 2402 will be the Port of Entry for 2401,” it said. “For cargo arriving at Ysleta (2401) from Mexico and moving onward, the in-bond origination port will be 2401.”

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new reporting requirements for six chemicals under significant new use rules. The proposed SNURs would require notification to EPA at least 90 days in advance of a new use by importers, manufacturers or processors. Importers of chemicals subject to these proposed SNURs would need to certify their compliance with the SNUR requirements should these proposed rules be finalized, EPA said. Exporters of these chemicals would become subject to export notification requirements. Comments on the proposed SNURs are due March 25.