A rule published Nov. 6 imposed new requirements on foreign importers bringing goods into the United States, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, part of the Homeland Security Department, said.
The changes take effect Jan. 5, 2027, and also assign licensed customs brokers responsibilities concerning their clients. The regulations establish consequences for foreign importers and brokers that fail to comply.
The rule changes requirements for foreign importers of record, the parties responsible for entering imported goods through customs. It implements Section 2 of Executive Order 14411, titled “Strengthening Customs Enforcement.”
Other Federal Register actions published Nov. 6 changed definitions used in financial regulation, revised Medicare payment systems and proposed changes affecting a New York bridge and Alaska fisheries.
The Securities and Exchange Commission issued a rule raising certain asset thresholds used to define small investment companies and investment advisers. Those definitions determine which entities count as small when the commission considers the effects of its regulations.
The definitions apply specifically under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, which requires agencies to consider how regulations affect small entities. The changes cover registered investment companies, business development companies and investment advisers.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, part of the Health and Human Services Department, issued a final rule with a comment period revising outpatient hospital and ambulatory surgical center payments.
The Medicare changes take effect Jan. 1, 2027. They revise payment amounts and factors for services covered by the two payment systems and update their quality reporting requirements.
The agency also expanded requirements for advance approval to cover additional botulinum toxin injection services. It made no changes to the Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting Program.
The Coast Guard proposed allowing New York City's Macombs Dam Bridge to remain closed to river traffic from Feb. 1 through Nov. 30, 2027, for structural rehabilitation.
The New York City Department of Transportation requested the change on Aug. 31. Comments on the proposed operating change for the Harlem River bridge are due Dec. 7.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, part of the Justice Department, issued a rule separately listing 3-chloromethcathinone and assigning it a drug code, effective Nov. 6. The substance was already controlled under Schedule I.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, part of the Commerce Department, published proposed Alaska fishery changes that would allow certain fixed-gear vessels to release sablefish. They would also change annual allocations to account for discarded fish.
The proposals concern vessels operating under individual fishing quota or Western Alaska community development programs. Comments close Jan. 5, 2027, and the amendments require approval before taking effect.
