WTO Dispute Settlement Proceeding Regarding European Communities-Certain Measures Affecting Poultry Meat and Poultry Meat Products From the United States, 61200-61201 [E9-28046]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 224 / Monday, November 23, 2009 / Notices
Dated: November 16, 2009.
Edward Ramotowski,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Acting, Bureau
of Consular Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E9–28041 Filed 11–20–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
30-Day Notice of Proposed Information
Collection: DS–3032, Choice of
Address and Agent for Immigrant Visa
Applicants, OMB No. 1405–0126
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
ACTION: Notice of request for public
comment and submission to OMB of
proposed collection of information.
SUMMARY: The Department of State has
submitted the following information
collection request to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
approval in accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
• Title of Information Collection:
Choice of Address and Agent for
Immigrant Visa Applicants.
• OMB Control Number: 1405–0126.
• Type of Request: Extension of
Currently Approved Collection.
• Originating Office: Bureau of
Consular Affairs, Office of Visa Services.
• Form Number: DS–3032.
• Respondents: All immigrant visa
applicants.
• Estimated Number of Respondents:
330,000.
• Estimated Number of Responses:
330,000.
• Average Hours per Response: 10
minutes.
• Total Estimated Burden: 55,000
hours.
• Frequency: Once per application.
• Obligation to Respond: Required to
obtained benefit.
DATES: Submit comments to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) for
up to 30 days from November 23, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Direct comments to the
Department of State Desk Officer in the
Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs at the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB). You may submit
comments by the following methods:
• E-mail:
oira_submission@omb.eop.gov. You
must include the DS form number,
information collection title, and OMB
control number in the subject line of
your message.
• Fax: 202–395–5806. Attention: Desk
Officer for Department of State.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Direct requests for additional
information regarding the collection
16:37 Nov 20, 2009
We are
soliciting public comments to permit
the Department to:
• Evaluate whether the proposed
information collection is necessary to
properly perform our functions.
• Evaluate the accuracy of our
estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used.
• Enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected.
• Minimize the reporting burden on
those who are to respond.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[Public Notice 6817]
VerDate Nov<24>2008
listed in this notice, including requests
for copies of the proposed information
collection and supporting documents, to
Lauren Prosnik of the Office of Visa
Services, U.S. Department of State, 2401
E. Street, NW., L–603, Washington, DC
20522, who may be reached at (202)
663–2951.
Jkt 220001
Abstract of Proposed Collection:
When an approved immigrant visa
petition is received at the National Visa
Center (NVC) and is determined to be
current for processing, NVC will send
the petition beneficiary Form DS–3032,
which allows the beneficiary to choose
an agent to receive mailings from NVC
and assist in the paperwork or paying
required fees. The applicant is not
required to choose an agent and may
have all mailings sent to an address
abroad. However, the alien’s case will
be held at NVC until the signed form is
returned. If the form is not returned
within one year, NVC will begin the
case termination process. DS–3032 is
not required if a G–28 (Notice of Entry
of Appearance as Attorney or
Representative) is received from DHS
and the attorney is the agent, the alien
is self-petitioning, or a child is being
adopted. Once the form has been signed
and returned to NVC the applicant
process will proceed.
Methodology:
DS–3032 will be submitted via mail to
the National Visa Center.
Dated: November 16, 2009.
Edward Ramotowski,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Acting, Bureau
of Consular Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E9–28038 Filed 11–20–09; 8:45 am]
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES
TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
[Docket No. WTO/DS389]
WTO Dispute Settlement Proceeding
Regarding European Communities—
Certain Measures Affecting Poultry
Meat and Poultry Meat Products From
the United States
AGENCY: Office of the United States
Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
SUMMARY: The Office of the United
States Trade Representative (‘‘USTR’’) is
providing notice that on October 23,
2009, the United States requested the
establishment of a panel under the
Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the
World Trade Organization (‘‘WTO
Agreement’’) with respect to certain
measures of the European Communities
(‘‘EC’’) affecting the import and
marketing of poultry products from the
United States. That request may be
found at www.wto.org contained in a
document designated as WT/DS389/4.
USTR invites written comments from
the public concerning the issues raised
in this dispute.
DATES: Although USTR will accept any
comments received during the course of
the dispute settlement proceedings,
comments should be submitted on or
before January 8, 2010 to be assured of
timely consideration by USTR.
ADDRESSES: Public comments should be
submitted electronically to https://
www.regulations.gov, docket number
USTR–2009–0005. If you are unable to
provide submissions by https://
www.regulations.gov, please contact
Sandy McKinzy at (202) 395–9483 to
arrange for an alternative method of
transmission. If (as explained below) the
comment contains confidential
information, then the comment should
be submitted by fax only to Sandy
McKinzy at (202) 395–3640.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: J.
Sloane Strickler, Assistant General
Counsel, Office of the United States
Trade Representative, 600 17th Street,
NW., Washington, DC 20508, (202) 395–
6164.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
127(b) of the Uruguay Round
Agreements Act (URAA) (19 U.S.C.
3537(b)(1)) requires that notice and
opportunity for comment be provided
after the United States submits or
receives a request for the establishment
of a WTO dispute settlement panel.
Consistent with this obligation, USTR is
providing notice that the establishment
of a dispute settlement panel has been
requested pursuant to the WTO
E:\FR\FM\23NON1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 224 / Monday, November 23, 2009 / Notices
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Understanding on Rules and Procedures
Governing the Settlement of Disputes
(‘‘DSU’’). If such a panel is established
pursuant to the DSU, such panel, which
would hold its meetings in Geneva,
Switzerland, would be expected to issue
a report on its findings and
recommendations within nine months
after it is established.
Major Issues Raised by the United
States
The EC prohibits the import of
poultry treated with any substance other
than water unless that substance has
been approved by the EC. The EC has
not approved any other substance.
Consequently, the EC prohibits the
import of poultry that has been
processed with chemical treatments
(‘‘pathogen reduction treatments’’ or
‘‘PRTs’’) designed to reduce the amount
of microbes on the meat, effectively
prohibiting the shipment of virtually all
U.S. poultry to the EC. The EC has not
published or otherwise made available
the process for approving a substance.
The EC also maintains a measure
regarding the marketing standards for
poultry meat, which defines
‘‘poultrymeat’’ as only ‘‘poultrymeat
suitable for human consumption, which
has not undergone any treatment other
than cold treatment.’’
In 2002, the United States requested
the European Commission to approve
the use of four PRTs in the production
of poultry intended for export to the EC:
acidified sodium chlorite, trisodium
phosphate, peroxyacids, and chlorine
dioxide. However, after more than six
years, including unexplained delays, the
EC has not approved any of these four
PRTs and instead has rejected the
approval of their use.
The EC’s failure to approve is despite
the fact that various EC agencies have
issued scientific reports regarding a
number of different aspects related to
the processing of poultry with these four
PRTs. Those reports did not find any
scientific basis for banning the use of
these PRTs. To the contrary, the
conclusion of these reports is that the
importation and consumption of poultry
processed with these four PRTs does not
pose a risk to human health.
The United States considers that the
EC’s failure to approve these four PRTs
is in breach of the EC’s WTO
obligations, in particular: Articles 2.2,
5.1, 5.2, 7, and 8, and Annexes B(1),
B(5), and C(1) of the Agreement on the
Application of Sanitary and
Phytosanitary Measures (‘‘SPS
Agreement’’); Article 4.2 of the
Agreement on Agriculture (‘‘Agriculture
Agreement’’); Articles III:4, X:1, and
XI:1 of the General Agreement on Tariffs
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:37 Nov 20, 2009
Jkt 220001
and Trade 1994 (‘‘GATT 1994’’); and
Article 2.1 of the Agreement on
Technical Barriers to Trade (‘‘TBT
Agreement’’).
Public Comment: Requirements for
Submissions
Interested persons are invited to
submit written comments concerning
the issues raised in this dispute. Persons
may submit public comments
electronically to https://
www.regulations.gov docket number
USTR–2009–0005. If you are unable to
provide submissions by https://
www.regulations.gov, please contact
Sandy McKinzy at (202) 395–9483 to
arrange for an alternative method of
transmission.
To submit comments via https://
www.regulations.gov, enter docket
number USTR–2009–0005 on the home
page and click ‘‘search’’. The site will
provide a search-results page listing all
documents associated with this docket.
Find a reference to this notice by
selecting ‘‘Notice’’ under ‘‘Document
Type’’ on the left side of the searchresults page, and click on the link
entitled ‘‘Submit a Comment.’’ (For
further information on using the
https://www.regulations.gov Web site,
please consult the resources provided
on the Web site by clicking on ‘‘How to
Use This Site’’ on the left side of the
home page.)
The https://www.regulations.gov site
provides the option of providing
comments by filling in a ‘‘Type
Comment and Upload File’’ field, or by
attaching a document. It is expected that
most comments will be provided in an
attached document. If a document is
attached, it is sufficient to type ‘‘See
attached’’ in the ‘‘Type Comment and
Upload File’’ field.
A person requesting that information
contained in a comment submitted by
that person be treated as confidential
business information must certify that
such information is business
confidential and would not customarily
be released to the public by the
submitter. Confidential business
information must be clearly designated
as such and the submission must be
marked ‘‘BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL’’
at the top and bottom of the cover page
and each succeeding page. Any
comment containing business
confidential information must be
submitted by fax to Sandy McKinzy at
(202) 395–3640. A non-confidential
summary of the confidential
information must be submitted to
https://www.regulations.gov. The nonconfidential summary will be placed in
the docket and open to public
inspection.
PO 00000
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61201
Information or advice contained in a
comment submitted, other than business
confidential information, may be
determined by USTR to be confidential
in accordance with section 135(g)(2) of
the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C.
2155(g)(2)). If the submitter believes that
information or advice may qualify as
such, the submitter—
(1) Must clearly so designate the
information or advice;
(2) Must clearly mark the material as
‘‘SUBMITTED IN CONFIDENCE’’ at the
top and bottom of the cover page and
each succeeding page; and
(3) Must provide a non-confidential
summary of the information or advice.
Any comment containing confidential
information must be submitted by fax. A
non-confidential summary of the
confidential information must be
submitted to https://
www.regulations.gov. The nonconfidential summary will be placed in
the docket and open to public
inspection.
USTR will maintain a docket on this
dispute settlement proceeding,
accessible to the public. The public file
will include non-confidential comments
received by USTR from the public with
respect to the dispute; if a dispute
settlement panel is convened or in the
event of an appeal from such a panel,
the U.S. submissions, any nonconfidential submissions, or nonconfidential summaries of submissions,
received from other participants in the
dispute; the report of the panel; and, if
applicable, the report of the Appellate
Body.
Comments will be placed in the
docket and open to public inspection
pursuant to 15 CFR 2006.13, except
confidential business information
exempt from public inspection in
accordance with 15 CFR 2006.15 or
information determined by USTR to be
confidential in accordance with 19
U.S.C. 2155(g)(2). Comments open to
public inspection may be viewed on the
https://www.regulations.gov Web site.
Daniel Brinza,
Assistant United States Trade Representative
for Monitoring and Enforcement.
[FR Doc. E9–28046 Filed 11–20–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190–W0–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 224 (Monday, November 23, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61200-61201]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-28046]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
[Docket No. WTO/DS389]
WTO Dispute Settlement Proceeding Regarding European
Communities--Certain Measures Affecting Poultry Meat and Poultry Meat
Products From the United States
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative
(``USTR'') is providing notice that on October 23, 2009, the United
States requested the establishment of a panel under the Marrakesh
Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (``WTO Agreement'')
with respect to certain measures of the European Communities (``EC'')
affecting the import and marketing of poultry products from the United
States. That request may be found at www.wto.org contained in a
document designated as WT/DS389/4. USTR invites written comments from
the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute.
DATES: Although USTR will accept any comments received during the
course of the dispute settlement proceedings, comments should be
submitted on or before January 8, 2010 to be assured of timely
consideration by USTR.
ADDRESSES: Public comments should be submitted electronically to https://www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR-2009-0005. If you are unable
to provide submissions by https://www.regulations.gov, please contact
Sandy McKinzy at (202) 395-9483 to arrange for an alternative method of
transmission. If (as explained below) the comment contains confidential
information, then the comment should be submitted by fax only to Sandy
McKinzy at (202) 395-3640.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: J. Sloane Strickler, Assistant General
Counsel, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508, (202) 395-6164.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 127(b) of the Uruguay Round
Agreements Act (URAA) (19 U.S.C. 3537(b)(1)) requires that notice and
opportunity for comment be provided after the United States submits or
receives a request for the establishment of a WTO dispute settlement
panel. Consistent with this obligation, USTR is providing notice that
the establishment of a dispute settlement panel has been requested
pursuant to the WTO
[[Page 61201]]
Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of
Disputes (``DSU''). If such a panel is established pursuant to the DSU,
such panel, which would hold its meetings in Geneva, Switzerland, would
be expected to issue a report on its findings and recommendations
within nine months after it is established.
Major Issues Raised by the United States
The EC prohibits the import of poultry treated with any substance
other than water unless that substance has been approved by the EC. The
EC has not approved any other substance. Consequently, the EC prohibits
the import of poultry that has been processed with chemical treatments
(``pathogen reduction treatments'' or ``PRTs'') designed to reduce the
amount of microbes on the meat, effectively prohibiting the shipment of
virtually all U.S. poultry to the EC. The EC has not published or
otherwise made available the process for approving a substance. The EC
also maintains a measure regarding the marketing standards for poultry
meat, which defines ``poultrymeat'' as only ``poultrymeat suitable for
human consumption, which has not undergone any treatment other than
cold treatment.''
In 2002, the United States requested the European Commission to
approve the use of four PRTs in the production of poultry intended for
export to the EC: acidified sodium chlorite, trisodium phosphate,
peroxyacids, and chlorine dioxide. However, after more than six years,
including unexplained delays, the EC has not approved any of these four
PRTs and instead has rejected the approval of their use.
The EC's failure to approve is despite the fact that various EC
agencies have issued scientific reports regarding a number of different
aspects related to the processing of poultry with these four PRTs.
Those reports did not find any scientific basis for banning the use of
these PRTs. To the contrary, the conclusion of these reports is that
the importation and consumption of poultry processed with these four
PRTs does not pose a risk to human health.
The United States considers that the EC's failure to approve these
four PRTs is in breach of the EC's WTO obligations, in particular:
Articles 2.2, 5.1, 5.2, 7, and 8, and Annexes B(1), B(5), and C(1) of
the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
(``SPS Agreement''); Article 4.2 of the Agreement on Agriculture
(``Agriculture Agreement''); Articles III:4, X:1, and XI:1 of the
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (``GATT 1994''); and
Article 2.1 of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (``TBT
Agreement'').
Public Comment: Requirements for Submissions
Interested persons are invited to submit written comments
concerning the issues raised in this dispute. Persons may submit public
comments electronically to https://www.regulations.gov docket number
USTR-2009-0005. If you are unable to provide submissions by https://www.regulations.gov, please contact Sandy McKinzy at (202) 395-9483 to
arrange for an alternative method of transmission.
To submit comments via https://www.regulations.gov, enter docket
number USTR-2009-0005 on the home page and click ``search''. The site
will provide a search-results page listing all documents associated
with this docket. Find a reference to this notice by selecting
``Notice'' under ``Document Type'' on the left side of the search-
results page, and click on the link entitled ``Submit a Comment.'' (For
further information on using the https://www.regulations.gov Web site,
please consult the resources provided on the Web site by clicking on
``How to Use This Site'' on the left side of the home page.)
The https://www.regulations.gov site provides the option of
providing comments by filling in a ``Type Comment and Upload File''
field, or by attaching a document. It is expected that most comments
will be provided in an attached document. If a document is attached, it
is sufficient to type ``See attached'' in the ``Type Comment and Upload
File'' field.
A person requesting that information contained in a comment
submitted by that person be treated as confidential business
information must certify that such information is business confidential
and would not customarily be released to the public by the submitter.
Confidential business information must be clearly designated as such
and the submission must be marked ``BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL'' at the top
and bottom of the cover page and each succeeding page. Any comment
containing business confidential information must be submitted by fax
to Sandy McKinzy at (202) 395-3640. A non-confidential summary of the
confidential information must be submitted to https://www.regulations.gov. The non-confidential summary will be placed in the
docket and open to public inspection.
Information or advice contained in a comment submitted, other than
business confidential information, may be determined by USTR to be
confidential in accordance with section 135(g)(2) of the Trade Act of
1974 (19 U.S.C. 2155(g)(2)). If the submitter believes that information
or advice may qualify as such, the submitter--
(1) Must clearly so designate the information or advice;
(2) Must clearly mark the material as ``SUBMITTED IN CONFIDENCE''
at the top and bottom of the cover page and each succeeding page; and
(3) Must provide a non-confidential summary of the information or
advice.
Any comment containing confidential information must be submitted
by fax. A non-confidential summary of the confidential information must
be submitted to https://www.regulations.gov. The non-confidential
summary will be placed in the docket and open to public inspection.
USTR will maintain a docket on this dispute settlement proceeding,
accessible to the public. The public file will include non-confidential
comments received by USTR from the public with respect to the dispute;
if a dispute settlement panel is convened or in the event of an appeal
from such a panel, the U.S. submissions, any non-confidential
submissions, or non-confidential summaries of submissions, received
from other participants in the dispute; the report of the panel; and,
if applicable, the report of the Appellate Body.
Comments will be placed in the docket and open to public inspection
pursuant to 15 CFR 2006.13, except confidential business information
exempt from public inspection in accordance with 15 CFR 2006.15 or
information determined by USTR to be confidential in accordance with 19
U.S.C. 2155(g)(2). Comments open to public inspection may be viewed on
the https://www.regulations.gov Web site.
Daniel Brinza,
Assistant United States Trade Representative for Monitoring and
Enforcement.
[FR Doc. E9-28046 Filed 11-20-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W0-P
