December 15 is the deadline for reserving advertising space in the 2007 International Cold Chain Directory. This cold chain sourcebook, with sections for transportation, warehousing, construction and products/service providers is distributed annually to the memberships of IRTA, IARW, WFLO and IACSC, as well as hundreds of others in the perishable food industry. For more information, or to reserve your space, contact Victoria Lonergan at 703-897-4414.

New Issue of IRTA Report Published

All members should have already received or will soon receive the new issue of the IRTA Report. Along with some cosmetic changes, this issue is packed with substantive articles such as:

· Study Shows Potato Producers Pathways to Profits

· Railroads Rebuilding Trust in Perishables Services

· Perishables Industry Faced with Regulatory Burden

· And More!

The association encourages members to submit news and articles of interest for use in its publications. Any news items should be sent to Lorien Onderdonk.

If you are not receiving the IRTA Report, please send an e-mail to Sara Martin. The publication is also available online.

WFLO Institute: February 11-14, 2007

IRTA members are invited to register one employee for the WFLO Institute at the WFLO member rate. The WFLO Institute offers a three-year program, with three and a half days of instruction each year devoted to helping warehouse and food distribution professionals better understand the many facets of the PRW industry. IRTA members have the option of registering as Audit participants, which means they may choose classes from any of the three Institute years. Read more about the Institute program online.

Government Affairs

Be Prepared for Tariff Code Changes

The latest World Customs Organization’s Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) at the international level—6-digit sub-headings—will go into effect in the new year. Every five years HTS classifications are updated. This time of the 97 HTS chapters, some 83 have been revised. See full story from Logistics Today.

USDA Delays Removal of Exemptions from Inspection and User Fee Requirements for Canada

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is delaying the effective date and establishing a staggered implementation for the collection of user fees for inspections of Canadian-grown fruits and vegetables, commercial vessels, trucks, railroad cars and aircraft, as well as international passengers entering the United States from Canada. The delay will allow affected industries time to prepare for the change. See full release. See related story from Reuters.

Industry News

IRTA members are encouraged to submit company news or articles of interest for publication in Cool Moves and/or the IRTA Report. Please e-mail all items to Lorien Onderdonk at Cold Chain Headquarters.

IRTA Assists with Founding of Logistics Aid Network

Logistics and supply chain executives, including IRTA and allied association IARW, have announced the formation of the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN), a new network to assist relief agencies in providing humanitarian aid, including goods and services, in the preparation for and response to a disaster. See full release.

Avion Group Announces Change of Name

Avion Group announces that following the approval by shareholders on 21 November, the following amendment will be made to the Company’s Articles of Association which have been registered with the Icelandic Stock Exchange: an amendment to Article 1 changing the Company’s name to Hlutafelagid Eimskipafelag Islands (Hf. Eimskipafelag Islands). See full release.

Maersk Making its Mark in South Africa

Coming from almost nowhere a little more than a decade ago to serve South Africa’s then burgeoning international sea trade, Maersk Line SA is today arguably the leading container operator on the local scene. See full story from Cape Business News.

Dubai Firm Accepting Bids for U.S. Port Operations

A Dubai-owned company will accept final bids within two weeks for the sale of all $700 million worth of its U.S. port operations to an American buyer, a plan forced by concerns over terrorism security. See full story from CNN.

South Korean Line Eyes Florida Port

A South Korean shipping line plans to develop the former Jefferson Smurfit paperboard plant property as a containerized cargo terminal if the Jacksonville Port Authority can take the land by eminent domain. See full story from the Jacksonville Business Journal.

Nicaragua Canal: Questions Persist

If planners in Nicaragua's capital get their way in the next month, the southern portion of Ometepe Island in Lake Nicaragua could be transformed from a placid tourist spot to a global transportation route plied by ships spanning the length of five soccer fields. See full story from USA Today.

L.A. to Bring Union to Court after Port Strike

Los Angeles city officials will take legal action against a municipal employee union today following labor demonstrations at the port, the Hyperion treatment plant and Los Angeles International Airport this week. See full story from the Daily Breeze.

China-India Trade to Double

The leaders of China and India have agreed to double trade between their countries to $40 billion by 2010. Their agreement would boost ties that have been marked by suspicions dating to a 1962 border war and a rivalry relating to their regional roles. See full story from the News Observer.

Trucking Continues Domination of U.S. Freight Movement

Trucking will increase its share of the nation’s freight pool and continue to dominate domestic freight movement into the next decade, the American Trucking Associations reports in its newly released U.S. Freight Transportation Forecast to 2017. See full release.

Schneider Finds Success with ‘Mexico Express’

Since it introduced the Mexico Express intermodal service between the U.S. Eastern Seaboard and Mexico, Schneider National Inc. says it has become its fastest intermodal lane for freight delivery across the border to Mexico City, San Luis Potosi, Guadalajara, Jalisco, the Bajio region and Monterrey. See full story from Logistics Today.