Several Airlines Have Suspended Service to Middle East Airports
With concerns over a possible wider conflict in the Middle East, many airlines have cancelled flights to the region. Some expect to resume flights in only a few days, others will not resume their flights until the first week of November. If you are planning a shipment to export to this area or expect imports you should check with your air carrier to confirm the status of when they can provide service.
Food Facility Renewal Registration with FDA is Now Open
Owners and operators of food facilities, both foreign and domestic, must re-register their facilities with the Food and Drug Administration between October 1 and December 31, 2024. If the registration is not completed by December 31, 2024, FDA will consider it to be expired. There is no fee for the renewal of a registration for a facility. There are resources available to assist in the re-registration. FDA has a user guide for re-registration that can be found at: Food Facility Registration User Guide: Step-by-Step Instructions for Registration | FDA. A Q&A on the re-registration process can also be found on FDA’s website at: https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/guidance-industry-questions-and-answers-regarding-food-facility-registration-seventh-edition
USTR has Posted Procedures for Requesting 301 Exclusions for Machinery to be Used in US Production
When the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) issued its instructions on 301 duties last month, it included a list of HTS numbers that would be eligible for exclusion from 301 duties for machinery and equipment imported for use in U.S. manufacturing. The notice did not include instructions on how to file requests for exclusions. The USTR has prepared the instructions and has issued and advance copy of the Federal Register Notice with those instructions and they can be found on the USTR’s website at: Section 301 FRN for Exclusion Process (Final).pdf (ustr.gov)
CBP Announces TFSC 025 Date
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has sent out a Save-the- Date announcement for their 2025 Trade Facilitation and Cargo Security (TFCS) Summit. The TFCS will be held in New Orleans between May 6 and 8. CBP will host the summit at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside located at Two Poydras Street, New Orleans. The registration is not open yet and usually opens a few weeks before the summit. We will watch for the opening announcement and send it out when we see it.