Webinar on Understanding US Product Safety Apparel Requirements and Risk-Based Targeting at the Border is going to take place on October 17. The webinar will be hosted by the Canadian Apparel Federation and sponsored by Export Development Canada. It will be presented by Crowell & Moring LLP. This webinar will provide practical guidance on the [...]
Webinar on Understanding US Product Safety Apparel Requirements and Risk-Based Targeting at the Border is going to take place on October 17.
The webinar will be hosted by the Canadian Apparel Federation and sponsored by Export Development Canada. It will be presented by Crowell & Moring LLP.
This webinar will provide practical guidance on the U.S. product safety requirements for apparel makers and how to effectively address risk-based targeting by U.S. Customs.
Importers of apparel face tough product safety regulation and enforcement in the U.S. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is increasingly focusing its enforcement efforts at the customs entry process using a risk-based approach to targeting shipments for auditing. Companies are challenged to keep up and comply with the full range of product safety regulatory obligations that apply to their products and rapidly respond to issues with U.S. regulatory agencies when they arise.
Webinar will cover:
• Product safety regulatory and certification requirements for adult and children’s apparel
• Interplay between federal and individual state requirements
• Elements of a reasonable testing & certification program
• Recent CPSC apparel enforcement actions and risk trends
• Risk-based targeting by U.S. Customs & Border Patrol and the Consumer Product Safety Commission
• How to handle border stoppages & what rights do you have with which agency
Speakers are Bridget Calhoun, co-chair of the Product Risk Management practice and specializes in “bet-the-company” government investigations and regulatory enforcement matters; Cheryl Falvey, Torts and Product Risk Management partner and formerly the general counsel of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission; & Jini Koh, International Trade associate specializing in import and market access matters.
Click here for registration information.
In one of our last posts we discussed the idea of involving your outside partners in your trade compliance strategy. Especially important in the example we gave is the design of your channels of communication to stay abreast of good information. Here is a case in point specific to the Apparel Industry and provided by our partner the Canadian Apparel Foundation.
Courtesy of the Canadian Apparel Foundation
Apparel producers that participate in the apparel duty remission programs are attempting to understand and reverse recent administrative changes to the programs. Just before Christmas Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) informed remission holders that all apparel and textile remission authorizations were being cancelled effective December 31, 2010. Remission holders have also been advised not to re-apply for their licenses until further notice and that any duties paid as a result of this initiative could eventually be recovered by way of drawback.
These abrupt and unexplained measures are likely to have extremely negative impacts not only on remission holders but also on stakeholders throughout their supply chains. Importers who have previously been able to forgo payment of duty at time of importation will now have to pay those duties and apply for drawback, causing a major unanticipated cash flow problem for many firms. The most surprising aspect of this policy change is the fact that CBSA would undertake what appear to be significant modifications to policy without prior consultation with any stakeholders and provide users less than two weeks notice before changes take effect.
CAF has asked CBSA to reinstate remission authorizations until such time that a reasonable and transparent consultation has been completed.
Interested firms may contact Bob Kirke, CAF Executive Director.
Who is the CAF?
The Canadian Apparel Federation (CAF) is the national association for Canada’s apparel industry. CAF stands up for the industry, and is your source for information and advice on national and international issues, and for industry-specific services.
Membership in CAF is open both to Canadian-based firms that design, manufacture or market apparel in Canada (corporate membership), and to industry suppliers and other interested parties (associate membership). Please click here for further instructions on applying for membership.
