Distribution date: 20 May 2005

This document proposes to revoke specific tolerances and tolerance exemptions for residues of the bird repellent 4-aminopyridine, fungicides ammonia and vinclozolin, and insecticides chloropicrin, diazinon, dihydro-5-heptyl-2(3H)-furanone, and dihydro-5-pentyl-2(3H)-furanone. EPA canceled food use registrations or deleted food uses from registrations following requests for voluntary cancellation or use deletion by the registrants, or non-payment of registration maintenance fees. EPA expects to determine whether any individuals or groups want to support these tolerances. 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 39 tolerances and tolerance exemptions of which 33 would be counted as tolerance reassessments toward the August 2006 review deadline.

Products Covered: Pesticide (HS Chapter:  3808;  ICS:  65)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 18 May 2005

On 21 September 1998, EPA promulgated national emission standards for pharmaceuticals production (40 CFR part 63, subpart GGG). This action proposes to amend the national emission standards for pharmaceuticals production to include provisions for planned routine maintenance of wastewater tanks and alternative monitoring for condensers and scrubbers. The proposed amendments also reference general standards for containers. In the Rules and Regulations section of this Federal Register, we are taking direct final action on the proposed amendments because we view the amendments as noncontroversial and anticipate no adverse comments. We have explained our reasons for the amendments in the preamble to the direct final rule. If we receive no adverse comments, we will take no further action on the proposed amendments. If we receive adverse comments, we will withdraw those provisions on which we received adverse comments. We will publish a timely withdrawal in the Federal Register indicating which provisions will become effective and which provisions are being withdrawn. If part or all of the direct final rule in the Rules and Regulations section of today's Federal Register is withdrawn, all comments pertaining to those provisions will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on the proposed amendments. We will not institute a second comment period on the subsequent final action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time.

Products Covered: pharmaceutical production  (HS Chapter:  30;  ICS:  13)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 18 May 2005

On 21 September 1998, EPA promulgated national emission standards for pharmaceuticals production (40 CFR part 63, subpart GGG). This action proposes to amend the national emission standards for pharmaceuticals production to include provisions for planned routine maintenance of wastewater tanks and alternative monitoring for condensers and scrubbers. The proposed amendments also reference general standards for containers. In the Rules and Regulations section of this Federal Register, we are taking direct final action on the proposed amendments because we view the amendments as noncontroversial and anticipate no adverse comments. We have explained our reasons for the amendments in the preamble to the direct final rule. If we receive no adverse comments, we will take no further action on the proposed amendments. If we receive adverse comments, we will withdraw those provisions on which we received adverse comments. We will publish a timely withdrawal in the Federal Register indicating which provisions will become effective and which provisions are being withdrawn. If part or all of the direct final rule in the Rules and Regulations section of today's Federal Register is withdrawn, all comments pertaining to those provisions will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on the proposed amendments. We will not institute a second comment period on the subsequent final action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time.

Products Covered: pharmaceutical production  (HS Chapter:  30;  ICS:  13)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 18 May 2005

EPA is proposing to extend the global laboratory and analytical use exemption for production and import of class I ozone depleting substances from 31 December 2005, to 31 December 2007, consistent with recent actions by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The exemption allows persons in the United States to produce and import controlled substances for laboratory and analytical uses that have not been already identified by EPA as nonessential. EPA also is proposing to clarify the applicability of the laboratory and analytical use exemption to production and import of methyl bromide after the 1 January 2005, phaseout date.

Products Covered: Ozone Depleting Substances (HS Chapter:  3824;  ICS:  13)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 18 May 2005

EPA is proposing to extend the global laboratory and analytical use exemption for production and import of class I ozone depleting substances from 31 December 2005, to 31 December 2007, consistent with recent actions by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The exemption allows persons in the United States to produce and import controlled substances for laboratory and analytical uses that have not been already identified by EPA as nonessential. EPA also is proposing to clarify the applicability of the laboratory and analytical use exemption to production and import of methyl bromide after the 1 January 2005, phaseout date.

Products Covered: Ozone Depleting Substances (HS Chapter:  3824;  ICS:  13)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 03 May 2005

Biosecurity New Zealand Standard 155.02.06 Importation of Nursery Stock stipulates the requirements for importation of nursery stock into New Zealand. This minor amendment expands the range of chemical treatments available for dormant bulbs in section 2.2.1.7 of the import health standard. This amendment will facilitate trade and therefore the import health standard will be adopted on 28 April 2005. However, New Zealand will consider any comments after this date and amend the import health standard if appropriate.

Products Covered: Biosecurity New Zealand Standard 155.02.06 Importation of Nursery Stock

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 03 May 2005

Biosecurity New Zealand Standard 155.02.06 Importation of Nursery Stock stipulates the requirements for importation of nursery stock into New Zealand. This minor amendment expands the range of chemical treatments available for dormant bulbs in section 2.2.1.7 of the import health standard. This amendment will facilitate trade and therefore the import health standard will be adopted on 28 April 2005. However, New Zealand will consider any comments after this date and amend the import health standard if appropriate.

Products Covered: Biosecurity New Zealand Standard 155.02.06 Importation of Nursery Stock

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 02 May 2005

EPA is proposing to revoke exemptions from the requirement of a tolerance for three inert ingredients (dichlorodifluoromethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, and trichlorofluoromethane) because these substances are no longer in active Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) pesticide product registrations and/or their use in pesticide products sold in the U.S. has been prohibited under the Clean Air Act for over a decade by EPA's ban on the sale or distribution, or offer for sale or distribution in interstate commerce of certain nonessential products that contain or are manufactured with ozone depleting compounds. These ingredients are subject to reassessment by August, 2006 under section 408(q) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA). Upon the issuance of the final rule revoking the tolerance exemptions, five tolerances will be counted as 'reassessed' for purposes of FFDCA's section 408(q).

Products Covered: Pesticides (HS Chapter:  3808;  ICS:  65)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 02 May 2005

EPA is proposing to revoke exemptions from the requirement of a tolerance for three inert ingredients (dichlorodifluoromethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, and trichlorofluoromethane) because these substances are no longer in active Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) pesticide product registrations and/or their use in pesticide products sold in the U.S. has been prohibited under the Clean Air Act for over a decade by EPA's ban on the sale or distribution, or offer for sale or distribution in interstate commerce of certain nonessential products that contain or are manufactured with ozone depleting compounds. These ingredients are subject to reassessment by August, 2006 under section 408(q) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA). Upon the issuance of the final rule revoking the tolerance exemptions, five tolerances will be counted as 'reassessed' for purposes of FFDCA's section 408(q).

Products Covered: Pesticides (HS Chapter:  3808;  ICS:  65)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 29 April 2005

The Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) has proposed to amend the compulsory standard TIS 78-2545 (2002) Laundry Detergent Powder which was notified as G/TBT/N/THA/46 on 11 October 2001. The substantial revision are as follows: 1. The standard number TIS 78-2545 (2002) is amended to TIS 78-2548 (2005); 2. Table 1: Chemical and physical properties, the Chloroform soluble matter is replaced by the concentration of Ethanol soluble matter.

Products Covered: HS Chapter:  3402;  ICS:  71.100.40 (Surface active agents)

Regulation Type: Regular notification