[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 5, 1996)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 28500-28501] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-14026] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Customs Service 19 CFR Parts 12 and 178 [T.D. 96-46] RIN 1515-AB96 Removal of Toshiba Sanction Regulations AGENCY: Customs Service, Treasury. ACTION: Final rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This document amends the Customs Regulations by removing the regulatory provisions that implemented the import sanctions against all products produced by the Toshiba Machine Company and the Kongsberg Trading Company. The ``Toshiba Sanctions'' were imposed by Executive Order No. 12661 for a three year time period, which expired on December 28, 1991. EFFECTIVE DATE: June 5, 1996. .FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Louis Alfano, Office of Field Operations, Trade Compliance, Commercial Enforcement, (202) 927-0005. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background As part of Customs continuing effort to ensure that its regulations are informative and up-to-date, Customs has determined that four of its regulatory provisions in Part 12 of the Customs Regulations (19 CFR Part 12) are obsolete and should be removed. The regulatory sections are found at 19 CFR 12.140-143, Customs Regulations, and were promulgated to implement the import sanctions mandated by section 2443(a)(2) of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (Pub.L. 100-418, 102 Stat. 1107, 1365, 50 U.S.C. App. 2410a note) and imposed by Executive Order No. 12661 of December 27, 1988 (53 FR 779, 3 CFR part 1988 Comp. p. 618, 24 Weekly Comp.Pres.Doc. 1661) for a three year time period against all products produced by the Toshiba Machine Company and the Kongsberg Trading Company. As the three year time period expired on December 28, 1991, Customs has decided to remove these four obsolete regulatory provisions, commonly referred to as the ``Toshiba Sanctions''. Also, because the Toshiba Sanction regulations required the submission of information to Customs, the listing of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control numbers found at 19 CFR 178.2 is amended to remove the information collection authorization for Sec. 12.143, which provided for declarations of exception from import sanctions. Inapplicability of Public Notice and Comment Requirements, Delayed Effective Date Requirements, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, and Executive Order 12866 Because this amendment removes obsolete regulatory provisions to conform the Customs Regulations to current legal requirements, which have no substantive effect on the public, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 (b)(B), good cause exists for dispensing with notice and public procedure thereon as unnecessary. For the same reasons, it is determined under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1) and (d)(3) that good cause exists for dispensing with a delayed effective date. Since this document is not subject to the notice and public procedure requirements of 5 U.S.C. 553, it is not subject to provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). This document does not meet the criteria for a ``significant regulatory action'' as specified in E.O. 12866. List of Subjects 19 CFR Part 12 Customs duties and inspection, Economic sanctions, Imports, Licensing, Prohibited merchandise, Restricted merchandise, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sanctions, Seizure and forfeiture. 19 CFR Part 178 Administrative practice and procedure, Exports, Imports, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Amendments to the Regulations For the reasons stated above, parts 12 and 178 of the Customs Regulations (19 CFR parts 12 and 178) are amended as set forth below: PART 12--SPECIAL CLASSES OF MERCHANDISE 1. The general authority citation for Part 12 continues to read as follows, and the specific authority citation for Secs. 12.140 through 12.143 is removed: Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 19 U.S.C. 66, 1202 (General Note 20, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS)), 1624; * * * * * 2. Part 12 is amended by removing the undesignated centerheading ``Sanctions Against Toshiba Machine Company and Kongsberg Trading Company'' and Secs. 12.140 through 12.143. PART 178--APPROVAL OF INFORMATION COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS 1. The authority citation for part 178 continues to read as follows: Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 19 U.S.C. 1624; 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. [[Page 28501]] Sec. 178.2 [Amended] 2. Section 178.2 is amended by removing the designation and description entry for Sec. 12.143. George J. Weise, Commissioner of Customs. Approved: May 15, 1996. Dennis M. O'Connell, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. [FR Doc. 96-14026 Filed 6-4-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4820-02-P