2016 - Page 4 of 6 - Customs & International Trade Law Firm

ISF PENALTIES HAVE OFFICIALLY ARRIVED: SELF FILE AND SELF POLICE

Back in July, 2013, we warned CBP would start enforcement efforts for Importer Security Filing (ISF) violations.

What’s ISF Again?

The ISF rules require importers and vessel-operating carriers to provide additional advance trade data on cargo shipments to CBP 24 hours prior to vessel lading, pursuant to Section 203 of the Security and Accountability for Every Port (SAFE Port Act) of 2006. (Practitioners Tip – This ONLY applies to goods arriving to the U.S. by Sea, not air).

Now, CBP advised: […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2016-07-18T14:14:16-04:00July 19, 2016|10+2, Best Practices, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)|0 Comments

SOLAS (Weigh or Pay) – Enforcement as of July 1, 2016

If you are involved in international trade, then you’ve recently heard the buzzword SOLAS and an enforcement date of July 1, 2016. Below contains a summary of SOLAS and what to be prepared for.

What is SOLAS?

“SOLAS,” an acronym made from The International Convention for the “Safety of Life at Sea,” is an international treaty that governs the safe operation of all ships engaged in international maritime trade. The SOLAS Convention specifies the minimum standards for the construction, equipment, and operation of merchant ships. The United States is a signatory to SOLAS.

Who is responsible? […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2022-07-07T11:36:20-04:00July 6, 2016|Best Practices, Export, Freight Forwarding, International Business, International Law, International Trade, Pre-compliance|0 Comments

FDA’s Declared War on Sugar

Take a look at any food label. Check out the back panel entitled “Nutrition Facts”. It should look similar to the image on the left. Take a look at the total carbohydrate. In this sample, the total carbs is 37g, with 4g of dietary fiber, and 1g of sugar. That leaves 32g of carbohydrates unaccounted for! What are those carbs you might wonder? Well, a majority of them are added sugars.

On May 20, 2016 the FDA finalized the new Nutrition Facts label final rule for packaged foods. It was the first major update, and regulation, to the nutrition facts label in 20 years. The FDA’s regulation targeted sugars, in particular “added sugars”, and provided a major update to the amount of nutrients people customarily consume. Additionally, the nutrition facts label received a face lift.

Total Sugars and Added Sugars

Total Sugars, Sugars, and Added Sugars, what’s the difference? Total sugars will be replacing the declaration of sugars in the label. Total sugars include all sugars present in the food product, including added sugars. Sugars include the sugar content of the main ingredients. For example, if you have a juice, sugars represent the sugar level in the fruit added to the juice. Added sugars are either added during the processing of foods, or when packaged. Food manufacturers utilize added sugars to make products sweeter or to include […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2016-06-03T00:40:17-04:00June 3, 2016|Enforcement, FSMA, Labeling, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)|0 Comments

The End of Vape Shops, Hookah Shops, And E-Cigs? FDA’s New “Deeming” Laws

On April 24, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA) announced that it was officially “deeming” e-cigs, e-hookah, vape pens, and other tobacco products subject to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). This article covered the proposed regulation at the time. On May 10, 2016 the FDA published the final rule on the new deeming law.

What Are Tobacco Products and What’s Being Regulated?

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By Jennifer Diaz|2022-07-07T11:34:21-04:00May 26, 2016|E-Cigarette, FDA Issues, Import, Pre-compliance, Tobacco, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)|0 Comments

Keep Calm and FSMA Doc On!

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) most comprehensive reform of food safety regulation. The full Act can be found here. The FDA’s main goal is to make food safer through every step of the process, starting at farms. Imported food is also covered under FSMA, which makes sense as imported food now accounts for approximately 15% of food consumption in the U.S. Rather than focusing on the inspection and response to contamination, the goal of the FSMA is to prevent contamination. Diaz Trade Law covered the changes on June 11, 2015 here.

President Obama signed the FSMA into law on January 4, 2011. FSMA will be implemented slowly in a staggered manner and will be fully implemented by the end of 2017. Implementation varies based on the particular food, company size, and situation, since the FSMA applies to such a broad category. Diaz Trade Law can assist you in learning the basic requirements for FDA regulated products here.

Companies affected by the FSMA will be any company in the food supply chain. Any company that imports, distributes, grows, produces, packages, transports or sells any type of food must be compliant. The company that owns the food is the company responsible for creating a food safety plan. That means that companies that store, carry, or transport the food do not need a food safety plan, but they still must be FSMA compliant.

Diaz Trade Law has compiled 3 top tips to successfully follow […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2016-05-12T21:51:32-04:00May 12, 2016|FDA Issues, Food, FSMA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)|0 Comments

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