Implementation of the Strengthening Organics Enforcement (SOE) Rule goes into effect today, March 19, 2024. The new rule updates the USDA’s organic regulations, oversight, and enforcement for organic products including production, handling, and sales. The new rule also implements 2018 Farm Bill requirements, addresses industry requests for regulation updates and National [...]
The recently published Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) budget for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) demonstrates the Commission's focus on staffing, restructuring, case prioritization, OSRA implementation, and a new electronic case management system. These updates are part of the $48.4 million congressional funding request FMC submitted for FY25 - an increase of [...]
California state and regional regulatory agencies are facing backlash from the freight transportation sector due to new emissions rules. Similar in goal to SB-253 and SB-261, these rules are being introduced to reduce emissions from freight transportation activities. The agencies are being urged to delay the rules due to high [...]
EUROPEAN UNION ANNOUNCES NEW FORCED LABOR RULE The European Union (EU) announced March 5th that a deal had been reached on a new rule set regarding forced labor. Specifically, this new rule will ban imports suspected of being made with forced labor, outlining how the EU will investigate and penalize [...]
At a February 28th congressional hearing, the FMC confirmed the final rule surrounding unreasonable carrier conduct can be expected to arrive in “the next couple of months.” This rule will come during a time of increased enforcement by the FMC as they have been closely watching surcharges related to the [...]
The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) recently released the Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) final rule. The SOE updates the USDA's organic regulations while strengthening oversight and enforcement for organic products including production, handling, and sale. It also implements 2018 Farm Bill requirements, incorporates industry requests for organic regulation updates, [...]
A recent ruling by the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) may have implications for container transport within the U.S. As a result of this ruling, ocean carriers were ordered to cease requiring cargo owners and their truckers use specific chassis for shipper-controlled transportation. The ruling responds to Ocean Carriers [...]
A GUIDE FOR THE PUBLIC: HOW CBP SETS BOND AMOUNTS The U.S. Customs Border Protection (CBP) agency recently released a Guide for the Public: How CBP Sets Bond Amounts updating the 1991 Directive - Monetary Guidelines for Setting Bond Amounts. The revised publication is an effort to update and standardize CBP's bond policy [...]
WEEK-LONG RAIL STRIKE German rail workers are in the midst of a week-long nationwide strike over working conditions and pay disputes. The Gewerkschaft Deutscher Lokomotivführer (GDL) initiated the strike. Spanning from January 23 to January 29, 2024, the labor action involves locomotive drivers, dispatchers, and other transport sector employees. [...]
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has scheduled an informal public hearing on February 7, 2024, to investigate the impact of conditions in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden regions on global supply chains and commercial shipping. The hearing aims to facilitate communication between stakeholders in the supply chain and [...]
