On April 28, 2010, the Food and Drug Administration sent a letter to companies and a wide range of other key stakeholders detailing its concern over cargo and warehouse thefts of FDA-regulated prescription and over-the counter medicines, medical devices, and infant formula. FDA is seeking to raise awareness among industry about each firm’s responsibility to review and strengthen their security practices. (FDA release dated 04/28/10, available at http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm209911.htm)

The Treasury Department has published its current list of countries that require or may require participation in, or cooperation with, an international boycott. The countries included on this list are:

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has issued Revision 2 to its Guidelines for Preparing Agreements, which incorporates additional revisions to its previously published Guidelines (Revision 1A, published in April 2009).

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has posted draft proposed rules that would designate certain children’s upper outerwear with drawstring violations and handheld hairdryers without immersion protection to be substantial product hazards under section 15 (j) of the Consumer Product Safety Act.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced that Jo-Ann Stores Inc. of Hudson, Ohio has agreed to pay a $50,000 civil penalty to settle allegations of importing and selling children’s products that violated the federal lead paint ban.

On April 27, 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a report titled Climate Change Indicators in the United States. The report looks at 24 measurable indicators that show how climate change impacts human health and the environment. (News release, dated 04/27/10, available at http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/3f28e17ccf1a508985257712005c8f4d!OpenDocument)

On April 26, 2010, APHIS updated its Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Import PPQ Manual. The manual lists by country fruits and vegetables that are admissible into the United States. It includes a description of methods for sampling and inspecting selected fruits and vegetables. It also contains pictorial identification guides, and a glossary for common and scientific names of fruits and vegetables. (Manual, updated 04/26/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/fv.pdf)

On April 26, 2010, APHIS updated the Manual for Agricultural Clearance. The manual provides CBP personnel working at airport and maritime locations with the guidelines, directions, and policy for clearing carriers and passengers/crew and controlling garbage and cargo. (Manual, updated 04/26/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/mac.shtml)

On April 26, 2010, APHIS updated its Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Animal Product Manual. This Manual provides the background, procedures, and regulatory actions to enforce the regulations governing the import and export of animals, animal products, and animal by-products. (Manual, updated 04/26/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/apm.shtml)

The Food and Drug Administration has posted revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of: