Trade and Customs Updates
FMC releases video to file Charge Complaints

On 18 Apr 2023, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) released a multimedia presentation to provide the public with instructions on how to file a charge complaint. Â
Charge Complaints were established by the
Charge Complaints were established by the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA 2022) and provides for an expedited process for disputing charges which may have been wrongly assessed by a common carrier.  Â
FDA Solicits Comments on MoCRA Data
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a Federal Register Notice on 01 May 2023 to solicit comments on certain elements of the Modernization of Cosmetics Act of 2022 (MoCRA). The notice announces an opportunity to submit comments on the

information collection provisions in FDA’s cosmetic labeling regulations and new statutory provisions for cosmetic labeling, facility registration, and products listing.Â
Comments are due by midnight on 30 Jun 2023. Â
MoCRA amended the Federal Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) by requiring, operators and owners of facilities manufacturing or processing cosmetic products to register with FDA and renew their registrations biennially. Facilities will also need to notify FDA of any changes to information that was required as part of registration. FDA may suspend registration if it is determined that a cosmetic product manufactured or processed by a registered facility has a reasonable probability of causing serious adverse health consequences or death. Upon notice that FDA intends to suspend registration, the responsible person for the facility may submit a corrective action plan for addressing the reasons for possible suspension of the facility registration. MoCRA also added the requirement for responsible persons to submit a product listing for each of their cosmetic products to FDA.Â
MoCRA also requiress, manufacturers of cosmetic products to label products intended for use only by licensed professionals to bear a label that the product must be administered or used only by licensed professionals, in addition to providing the same information on the label that is required of cosmetic products intended for consumers. MoCRA also added the requirement for cosmetic product labels to include contact information through which the responsible person can receive adverse event reports. Other requirements introduced by MoCRA include facility registration and cosmetic product listing.Â
CBP Introduces Green Trade Strategy
On 26 Apr 2023, CBP unveiled their Green Trade Strategy by releasing a 2-minute video. You can find the video by clicking on this link.Â
USDA APHIS Announces its 5-year Strategic Plan
The US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published a new 5-year strategic plan. It incorporates input received from stakeholders on the strategic framework – a summarized version of the plan they published in June 2022.

The plan includes six strategic goals.Â
These strategic goals focus on:Â
- Protecting agriculture from plant and animal diseases and pests;Â
- Positioning the Agency’s workforce to better meet current and future challenges;Â
- Delivering solutions that reduce the impacts of zoonotic and emerging diseases, and ecosystem changes, such as climate change;Â
- Expanding safe trade;Â
- Managing wildlife diseases; andÂ
- Promoting the welfare of animals.Â
APHIS also released a strategic foresight report. It examines 10 societal, environmental, and technological trends and several future scenarios that the Agency must be prepared to navigate.Â
They include:Â
- Rise in security threats.Â
- Escalation of climate change threats.Â
- Political, geographical, and economic division.Â
- Increasing dependence on data analytics.Â
- Advances in science and technology.Â
- Changes in production practices.Â
- Evolving perceptions around animal welfare and wildlife in human society.Â
- Globalization.Â
- Rising global health threats.Â
- The changing federal workforce.Â
The strategic plan and foresight report are available on the APHIS website at: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/banner/aboutaphis/SA_Overview.Â
USTR Releases 2023 Report on IPR Enforcement
On 26 Apr 2023, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released its 2023 Special 301 Report on the adequacy and effectiveness of U.S. trading partners’ protection and enforcement of intellectual property (IP) rights.Â

The annual report details USTR’s findings of more than 100 trading partners after significant research and enhanced engagement with stakeholders.Â
Trade and Customs Reminders & Events

 U.S. Regulation of Food Ingredients and Considerations for Infant Formula
May 24
This event will provide stakeholders with information on regulatory requirements and considerations for infant formula ingredients.

June 1
The purpose of the listening session is to consult cosmetics manufacturers, including smaller businesses, contract manufacturers, consumer organizations, and other experts to inform FDA’s efforts in developing regulations to establish good manufacturing practices (GMPs) for facilities that manufacture, or process cosmetic products distributed in the United States.

Regulatory Education for Industry (REdI) Annual Conference
June 5-9
Federal law authorizes the FDA to collect user fees to fulfill its mission of promoting and protecting public health. This session will look at how the FDA advances programs through user fees support.

U.S. Regulation of Food Contact Substances and Considerations for Infant Formula PackagingÂ
June 7
This event will inform stakeholders about regulatory requirements and considerations for infant formula packaging.Â

5th Annual Geodis Trade Symposium
June 8
Join leading experts from GEODIS, attorneys, and government officials on June 8, 2023, at the Union League at Liberty Hill. Network with peers, gain valuable industry insights and discover the latest solutions in the field during interactive panels and breakout sessions. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and stay up to date on the current hot customs and trade topics.