As of December 12, 2003, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has introduced, through an interim rule, a “Prior Notice” obligation for each shipment of food for humans and other animals use, imported into the U.S. (except in some limited cases). This document consist of a form to be filed electronically to the FDA, that contanins data concerning, among the other things, the name and the address of the shipper, the manufacturer, the importer, the carrier and the person submitting the prior notice, with the identification of each item of which the shipment is made (FDA product code), the quantity, the manufacturing Country, etc.

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The Council Regulation (EC) N. 338/97 of 9 December 1996 is the numerously amended Community law through which the rules of the Washington Convention of 1975 on the International Trade in endangered Species of wild fauna and flora, better known as "CITES" , have been transposed - starting from 1th January 1984 - within the Community legal system (see our article). It lists the animal and vegetable species whose commerce is subject in the EU to particular restrictions or controls. Such specimen are indicated in a special Annex to the aforementioned Regulation. Starting from 22 May 2009, said Annex is replaced by the relevant Annex to the Commission Regulation (EC) N. 407/2009 of 14 May 2009.

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