Distribution date: 05 July 2006

The Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) has proposed to withdraw TIS 760-2531 (1988) Dyestuffs: Vat Dyes and replace it with TIS 760-25XX Synthetic Dyestuff: Vat Dye as well as to enforce as a mandatory standard. The standard specifies safety requirements i.e. hazardous aromatic amine, free aromatic amine and heavy metal content; prescribes moisture content (if in solid form), colour difference, colour fastness to artificial light (xenon arc lamp), washing, bleaching agent and rubbing; and includes packaging, marking and labeling, sampling and criteria for conformity and testing.

Products Covered: HS:  Chapter 3204, ICS:  59.040 (Textile auxiliary materials)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 23 June 2006

All the products listed under item 3 may contain chemical substances such as Sudan I, II, III and IV. This represents a serious threat to public health in Romania. Therefore the imports will be sampled and analyzed in accordance with the provisions of the above mentioned Romanian Order and those detected to be contaminated with the above mentioned chemicals will be forbidden to enter Romania. These measures will be adopted to provide a high level of public health protection.

Products Covered: "Chilli", fruits of the genus Capsicum, dried and crushed or ground (HS 0904 20 90), in whatever form, intended for human consumption - "Chilli products", curry powder (HS 0910 50), in whatever form, intended for human consumption - "Curcuma", curcuma dried and crushed or ground (HS 0910 30), in whatever form, intended for human consumption - "Palm oil", palm oil (HS 1511 10 90), intended for direct human consumption

Regulation Type: Emergency notifications (SPS)

Distribution date: 23 June 2006

All the products listed under item 3 may contain chemical substances such as Sudan I, II, III and IV. This represents a serious threat to public health in Romania. Therefore the imports will be sampled and analyzed in accordance with the provisions of the above mentioned Romanian Order and those detected to be contaminated with the above mentioned chemicals will be forbidden to enter Romania. These measures will be adopted to provide a high level of public health protection.

Products Covered: "Chilli", fruits of the genus Capsicum, dried and crushed or ground (HS 0904 20 90), in whatever form, intended for human consumption - "Chilli products", curry powder (HS 0910 50), in whatever form, intended for human consumption - "Curcuma", curcuma dried and crushed or ground (HS 0910 30), in whatever form, intended for human consumption - "Palm oil", palm oil (HS 1511 10 90), intended for direct human consumption

Regulation Type: Emergency notifications (SPS)

Distribution date: 14 June 2006

Products Covered: Bandages for surgical dressings (ICS:  59.080.30;  HS:  30.05)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 14 June 2006

Products Covered: Bandages for surgical dressings (ICS:  59.080.30;  HS:  30.05)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 02 June 2006

EPA is announcing that 12 specific inorganic bromide tolerances have been reassessed and is proposing to revoke them because they are no longer needed. These 12 tolerances are for residues of inorganic bromide from pre-plant (non-food) use in or on raw agricultural commodities grown in soil fumigated with combinations of chloropicrin, methyl bromide, and propargyl bromide. Although methyl bromide is used as an agricultural pesticide, the Agency considers its application as a soil fumigant to be a non-food use because it is quickly degraded or metabolized in the soil, and subsequently incorporated into natural plant constituents. Methyl bromide is also emitted to the atmosphere. Residues of the parent compound are not likely to be found in foods as a result of prior treatment of fields. While residues of inorganic bromide may be present, these residues are indistinguishable from background because of inorganic bromide's ubiquity in the environment. In addition, the Agency has concluded that inorganic bromide residue from such use is not of risk concern and has determined those twelve tolerances to be safe. Consequently, EPA is proposing to revoke them because no tolerances are needed for those non-food uses and the Agency considers these tolerances to be reassessed. Furthermore, since methyl bromide, when applied as a pre-plant soil fumigant is a non-food use, it should be added as an entry to 40 CFR 180.2020 noting the non-food use determination. The regulatory actions proposed in this document contribute toward the Agency's tolerance reassessment requirements under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) section 408(q), as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996. By law, EPA is required by August 2006 to reassess the tolerances that were in existence on 2 August 1996. The regulatory actions proposed in this document pertain to the proposed revocation of 12 tolerances that count as tolerance reassessments toward the August 2006 review deadline.

Products Covered: Inorganic Bromide (HS Chapter:  3808;  ICS:  13)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 02 June 2006

EPA is announcing that 12 specific inorganic bromide tolerances have been reassessed and is proposing to revoke them because they are no longer needed. These 12 tolerances are for residues of inorganic bromide from pre-plant (non-food) use in or on raw agricultural commodities grown in soil fumigated with combinations of chloropicrin, methyl bromide, and propargyl bromide. Although methyl bromide is used as an agricultural pesticide, the Agency considers its application as a soil fumigant to be a non-food use because it is quickly degraded or metabolized in the soil, and subsequently incorporated into natural plant constituents. Methyl bromide is also emitted to the atmosphere. Residues of the parent compound are not likely to be found in foods as a result of prior treatment of fields. While residues of inorganic bromide may be present, these residues are indistinguishable from background because of inorganic bromide's ubiquity in the environment. In addition, the Agency has concluded that inorganic bromide residue from such use is not of risk concern and has determined those twelve tolerances to be safe. Consequently, EPA is proposing to revoke them because no tolerances are needed for those non-food uses and the Agency considers these tolerances to be reassessed. Furthermore, since methyl bromide, when applied as a pre-plant soil fumigant is a non-food use, it should be added as an entry to 40 CFR 180.2020 noting the non-food use determination. The regulatory actions proposed in this document contribute toward the Agency's tolerance reassessment requirements under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) section 408(q), as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996. By law, EPA is required by August 2006 to reassess the tolerances that were in existence on 2 August 1996. The regulatory actions proposed in this document pertain to the proposed revocation of 12 tolerances that count as tolerance reassessments toward the August 2006 review deadline.

Products Covered: Inorganic Bromide (HS Chapter:  3808;  ICS:  13)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 02 May 2006

Products Covered: Storage container, cleaning box and clamps for contact lenses (ICS:  11.040.70;  HS:  9004)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 02 May 2006

Products Covered: Storage container, cleaning box and clamps for contact lenses (ICS:  11.040.70;  HS:  9004)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 28 April 2006

Products Covered: Steel bars and rods   (HS:  Chapter 7217;  ICS:  77.140.60)

Regulation Type: Regular notification