FOREST AND FISHERY PRODUCTS ARCHIVED PRESS RELEASES
		An Economic Overview of the U.S. Solid Wood Industry (June 2006)
		Phase III Implementation of Import Requirements for Wood Packaging Materials (.pdf format) (June 2006)
		Operating Procedures for Implementation of the Wood Packaging Materials (WPM) Regulation   (.pdf format) (June 2006)
		Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (August 2005) USDA Agriculture Secretary Johanns:  "I commend the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). This is an immensely positive step for America's farmers and ranchers for a number of reasons. "The agreement eliminates barriers to our producers and greatly improves our competitiveness in these markets. These are natural markets for our producers and new access will offer many new business opportunities. "In a broader context, today's vote sends a strong signal to our trading partners that the United States continues to be a vigorous leader in attaining global free trade. Passage of CAFTA-DR provides new momentum for the Doha Round and other negotiations. "The implications of this trade agreement extend well beyond agriculture. Strengthening economic ties with our neighbors in this hemisphere is a matter of vital national importance. All of our nations benefit from a more stable, secure, and prosperous hemisphere."
		USDA Forest Service Awards Nearly $3 Million To Enhance Hardwood Forest Industries (August 2005)
		Johanns Announces $141 Million To Promote U.S. Food And Agricultural Products Overseas: (June 2005) Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced more than $141 million worth of funding to 70 U.S. trade organizations to promote U.S. agricultural products overseas.
		Johanns Announces First USDA Farm Bill Forum And Topics For Public Comment:  (June 2005) Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced the first Farm Bill Forum and the topics on which the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be seeking input from America's farmers, ranchers and rural residents regarding the development of the 2007 Farm Bill.
		USDA Grants Trade Adjustment Assistance To Shrimp Producers In Arizona The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service recertified a petition for shrimp producers in Arizona under the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for farmers program. The producers may apply for TAA benefits through July 11, 2005.   (04/12/2005)
		EU Safeguard Action Against Farmed Salmon to Have Little Impact on U.S. Exports (February 2005) Commission Regulation 206/2005 imposes definitive safeguard measures against imports of farmed salmon into the EU. The safeguard measures will operate through a combination of tariff rate quotas and a minimum import price. For more information click on the following link: E35029. The safeguard measures only apply to fresh, chilled or frozen farmed Atlantic salmon, whether or not filleted (EU CN codes 03021200, 03031100, 03031900, 03032200, 03041013 and 03042013). Wild salmon is not subject to the safeguard action. Since the U.S. mainly exports wild salmon to the EU, the safeguard measures will have very little impact on U.S. trade. However, since the tariff lines in the EU Tariff Schedule do not distinguish between farmed and wild salmon, documents accompanying shipments of wild salmon must clearly state that the salmon was caught at sea.
		Organic Standards for Aquatic Animals (February 2005) The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) at its October 12-14, 2004, meeting recommended the formation of two ad hoc task force groups to develop draft organic standards. One task force will develop proposed production, handling, and labeling standards for food and animal feed products derived from aquatic animals. The second task force will develop proposed organic labeling standards for pet food. This notice calls for nominations for members to these two task force groups. For more information see: Federal Register Organic Fish (.pdf)  Each task force will be expected to present its completed proposed standards at the October-November 2005, NOSB meeting to be held in Washington, DC.  Written nominations, with resumes, must be post-marked on or before February 23, 2005.
		Swedish Forest Owners Severely Affected by Largest Storm Damage in 100 Year (01/21/2005)
		Shrimp Producers Become Eligible to Re-Apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance on January 10 (12/23/2004) Petition re-certification makes shrimp producers in Alabama and Louisiana eligible to re-apply for TAA benefits between Jan. 10 and April 11, 2005. (12/23/04)  -- Information for Alabama Producers  -- Information for Louisiana Producers  -- More information about TAA
		Relief and Reconstruction for Victims of the Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami  (January 2005)
		The Export Sales Reporting Program: The Early Alert System for U.S. Exporters (January 2005)
		USDA Extends Comment Period For Interim Final Rule For Madatory Country of Origin Labeling of Fish and Shellfish (12/27/2004)
		USDA Grants Assistance To Shrimp Producers In Alabama Under Trade Adjustment Assistance Program (12/23/2004)
		USDA Grants Assistance To Shrimp Producers In Louisana Under Trade Adjustment Assistance Program (12/23/2004)
		USDA Grants Assistance To Shrimp Producers in South Carolina Under Trade Adjustment Assistance Program (11/16/2004)
		USDA Grants Assistance To Shrimp Producers In Three States Under Trade Adjustment Assistance Program (11/15/2004)
		USDA Grants Trade Adjustment Assistance to Washington Salmon Fishermen (October 2004)
		USDA Grants Assistance To Alaska Salmon Fishermen Under Trade Adjustment Assistance Program (October 2004)
		USDA Issues Regulatory Action on Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling for Fish and Shellfish (October 2004) Interim final rule (.PDF | requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) outlines requirements for labeling covered commodities while reducing recordkeeping retention requirements for suppliers and centrally located retail records as well as reducing the time during which store level records must be made available. -- Appendix A - [Text] -- Talking Points on Interim Final Rule -- Questions and Answers -- Examples of records that may be useful for COOL verification purposes
		The Lifting Of U.S. Sanctions May Create Opportunities for U.S. Seafood Products (October 2004)
		What Every Member of the Trade Community Should Know About: Tariff Classification (September 2004) If you are uncertain as to the correct export or import classification of your product, go to www.cbp.gov
		USDA Provides $500,000 For Wildfire Recovery Efforts For Alaska Native and Rural Communities  (September 2004)
		Bush Administration To Recommend New Wilderness Designation In Georgia (September 2004)
		U.S. Surimi Exports Continue Upward Trend in EU-25 (September 2004)
		USDA Release: U.S. Agricultural Exports Expected To Reach A Record $62 Billion In FY 2004 (August 2004)
		UNECE/FAO Timber Branch, Geneva, has just released the "Forest Products Annual Market Review, 2003-2004" on its website homepage: http://www.unece.org/trade/timber (August 2004)
		Tajique Forest Restoration Project Announcement (August 2004)
		USDA Trade Adjustment Assistance Program Requests To Begin In August (June 2004)
		European Seafood Exposition Gets High Marks from U.S. Seafood Exhibitors (June 2004)
		USDA Invites Public Comment On Petitions for Recertification Under The Trade Adjustment Assistance Program (June 2004)
		Incorporation of KSF 1611-1 into the Korean National Building Code (June 2004)
		USDA Forest Service Awards More Than $1.1 Million In Urban and Community Forestry Grants (June 2004)
		USDA Appoints 11 New Members of Forestry Research Council  (June 2004)
		Science And Technology Ministerial Conference In West Africa Announcement (June 2004)
		USDA Invites Public Comment On Petitions for Recertification Under The Trade Adjustment Assistance Program (June 2004)
		U.S. Agricultural Exports Forecast To Be A Record $61.5 Billion in Fiscal Year 2004 (May 2004)
		USDA Updates Country Listings In World Production, Supply and Distribution (PS&D) Online Database (May 2004)
		Funding For Oak Disease Containment Announcement (May 2004)
		The UNECE/FAO Timber Branch Announces Publications (May 2004)
		Veneman Highlights Positive Trade Picture for American Agriculture (April 2004)
		USDA Now Offers U.S. Supplier List For Free (April 2004)
		USDA Promotes New Cherry Variety (April 2004)
		USDA Announces $3.5 Million For New Salmon Habitat Restoration Initiative In Five States (March 2004)
		USDA Grants Assistance to Shrimpers in Florida Under Trade Adjustment Assistance Program (March 2004)
		USDA Grants Assistance to Shrimpers in North Carolina Under Trade Adjustment Assistance Program (March 2004)
		USDA Grants Assistance to Shrimp Producers in Arizona Under Trade Adjustment Assistance Program (March 2004)
		USDA Announces Additional $28 Million To Fight Emerald Ash Borer (March 2004)
		Federal Agencies Sign Agreements To Continue Species Protection, Implement Forest Health Projects (March 2004)
		USDA Announces Additional $28 Million To Fight Emerald Ash Borer (March 2004)
		U.S.- Morocco Free Trade Agreement (March 2004)
		USTR Fact Sheet on U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (July 2004)
		United States and Morocco Free Trade Agreement (March 2004)
		Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers: Michigan Fish Producers (March 2004)
		Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers: Arizona Shrimp Producers (March 2004)
		Federal Agencies Announce Guidelines To Aid Wildfire Prevention And Restoration of Healthy Forests And Rangelands (March 2004)
		USDA Grants Assistance To Shrimp Producers In Alabama Under Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program
		Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Farmers
		Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003
		CAFTA Fact Sheet
		U.S. and Central American Countries Conclude Historic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)
	Statement by Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman Regarding the Conclusion of the U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)
	USDA Grants Assistance To Alaska Salmon Fishermen Under Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program (October 2003)
	USDA Grants Assistance To Washington Salmon Fishermen Under Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program (October 2003)
	Private Exporters Report Sales Activity for Mexico and China (0190) - October 2003
	USDA Offers GSM-102 Credit Guarantees ($350 Million) for Export Sales to Caribbean Region (0191) - October 2003
	USDA Offers Supplier Credit Guarantees ($10 Million) for Export Sales to Caribbean Region (0192) - October 2003
	USDA Offers Facility Credit Guarantees ($10 Million) for Export Sales to Caribbean Region (0193) - October 2003
	USDA Offers GSM-102 Credit Guarantees ($100 Million) for Export Sales to Egypt (0194) - October 2003
	USDA Offers GSM-103 Credit Guarantees ($5 Million) for Export Sales to Egypt (0195) - October 2003
	USDA Offers Supplier Credit Guarantees ($20 Million) for Export Sales to Egypt (0196) - October 2003
	USDA Offers Supplier Credit Guarantees ($50 Million) for Export Sales to Western Europe Region (0197) - October 2003
	USDA Offers Supplier Credit Guarantees ($50 Million) for Export Sales to Japan (0198) - October 2003
	Key Provisions of Bioterrorism Act Soon to Be Implemented: Facilities Registration Requirement is Broad in Scope - September 2003

Key Provisions of Bioterrorism Act Soon to Be Implemented: Facilities Registration Requirement is Broad in Scope

In response to the events of September 11, 2001, Congress passed the Bioterrorism Act of 2002. The purpose of the Act is to help protect the U.S. food supply from acts of bioterrorism or intentional contamination. While the comment period for the implementing regulations is over, it is not too late to find out what this new law means for U.S. producers and exporters. Several key components will go into effect on December 12, 2003. These include four major provisions: facilities registration, prior notice, record keeping, and administrative detention. This briefer will focus on the registration requirement. The Federal Register notice publishing the final regulation for facilities registration is expected to come out around October 12. 

Because there will probably be certain minor changes in the final regulation, all companies likely to be subject to the registration requirement need to read the final regulations as soon as they are published. While we have a very good idea of what will be required, the language of the final regulation will be what will be implemented and enforced. This will not be available until early October. 

Who must register?

The owner, operator, or agent in charge of a facility that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food for domestic consumption in the United States for either human or animal use. Because most exporters also sell to the domestic market, exporters are likely required to register. This includes all food and animal feed, as well as dietary supplements, infant formula, beverages (including alcoholic beverages), and food additives (Food additives include non-food products, such as MSG, salt, preservatives, etc.).

What information is needed?

Required information is minimal: the name of company (as well as parent company) and contact information (contact name, address, phone, email), the product category/ies for human foods, trade names of the foods, and a statement of truthfulness regarding the statement. For imported foods, contact information for a U.S. agent is also needed. Describing the type of facility is optional, as well as when seasonal operations are in use. Warehouses can optionally register what type of storage (e.g. refrigerated). 

When is registration needed?

All facilities must be registered by December 12. There are no exceptions. Registration will not be available until final regulations are published (some time around October 12). Companies subject to the registration requirement should be aware that third party companies offering to accept registrations prior to October 12 for a fee are shams.

Exemptions

Many types of facilities are exempt from the registration requirement: farms, restaurants and other retail food establishments, nonprofit food facilities that prepare or serve food directly, as well as most fishing vessels. Also exempt are meat, poultry and egg products facilities that are exclusively regulated by USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Cost of registering

There is no cost to register. 

How to register

Registration can be done online, by mail, fax, or CD-ROM.

Is this information available to the public?

This information will not be made available to the public, nor subject to a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request.

What happens if a company doesn’t register?

Under the Bioterrorism Act, it is a prohibited act for a facility to not be registered by December 12, 2003. If a firm does not register by the deadline, the United States can bring a civil action in federal court to enjoin persons who commit a prohibited act; or it can bring a criminal action in federal court to prosecute persons who commit a prohibited act. The Bioterrorism Act also requires food from unregistered foreign facilities to be held at the port of entry unless the FDA directs that the food be moved to a secure location.

For further information …

Contact Mark Thompson with the AgExport Services Division at 202-720-3015 or Audrey Talley with the Food Safety and Technical Services Division at 202-720-9408.

Updated September 3, 2003