POLICIES & REGULATIONS

Food Contact Materials Law Amends Position on Use of a Substance in Plastic Packaging

20 August 2019

The Official Journal of the European Union has published new Commission Regulation 2019/1338 which amends Regulation 10/2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. Hong Kong’s food suppliers and suppliers of food packaging (e.g., food containers) to the EU market will likely know that this latter-mentioned law has established a Union list of authorised substances. More

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Trade Restrictions on Additional Chemicals Subject of BIS Inquiry

20 August 2019

BIS is seeking comments by 13 September on whether the legitimate commercial activities and interests of chemical, biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms in the United States would be harmed by the proposed addition of five chemical families to Schedule 1 in the Chemical Weapons Convention. More

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Mexico Proposes New Requirements for Re-treaded Tyres

20 August 2019

Mexico is seeking input from interested parties by 12 October on a proposal (PROY-NOM-228-SCFI-2018) to establish new safety and other requirements for domestically-produced and imported re-treaded tyres, of radial or diagonal construction, for use in automobiles, vans, light lorries, buses and lorries. More

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Nordic Countries Urge Development of Circular Value Chain for Electronic Products

15 August 2019

On 5 August 2019, the Nordic Council of Ministers released a report entitled “Designing plastics circulation – electrical and electronic products”. The purpose of the report is to drive the electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) sector towards a circular economy. This can be done, it states, by encouraging companies to take on board circular design principles, improve material markings and identifications and by introducing legislation. More

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CBP Modifies Post-Summary Corrections Test for Liquidation Extensions

14 August 2019

Effective 14 August, U.S. Customs and Border Protection is modifying the National Customs Automation Program test pertaining to the processing of post-summary corrections by expanding the period in which a PSC may be filed in cases where an importer requests and is granted an extension of liquidation pursuant to 19 CFR 159.12. In such instances, after an importer is granted an extension of liquidation a PSC must be transmitted up to 15 days prior to the scheduled liquidation date. More

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Proposal to Allocate Consumption Allowances for HCFCs under Consideration

14 August 2019

The Environmental Protection Agency is accepting comments through 30 September on a proposal to allocate production and consumption allowances for specific hydrochlorofluorocarbons, a type of ozone-depleting substance, for the years 2020 through 2029. These HCFCs may be used to service certain equipment manufactured before 2020. More

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Imports of 17 Chemical Substances Could Face Restrictions

14 August 2019

The EPA is accepting comments through 13 September a proposed rule that would require persons who intend to manufacture (including import) or process any of 17 specified chemical substances for an activity designated as a significant new use by this rule to notify the EPA at least 90 days before commencing that activity. More

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Legislation Introduced or Passed in the 116th U.S. Congress

13 August 2019

From 5 through 11 August 2019, members of the U.S. Congress did not introduce and/or approve any international trade-related bills that may have an impact on Hong Kong or mainland China. More

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U.S. Executive Calendar

13 August 2019

U.S. Executive Calendar as at 12 August 2019. Action: Pre-hearing conference in connection with USITC AD and CV injury investigations of refillable stainless steel kegs from China. More

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European Citizens Call for the Ban of All Single-use Plastic Products in Europe

13 August 2019

On 29 July 2019, Commission Decision 2019/1268 on the proposed citizens' initiative entitled ‘Let's put an end to the era of plastic in Europe’ was published in the Official Journal of the EU. It is noted there that, on 3 July, the citizen’s initiative for the revision of EU Directive 2019/904, namely, the EU Directive on the impact of certain plastics on the environment was registered by the European Commission. More

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