Over the last two years we have been following CARB through draft regulation documents, webinars and workshops, and numerous phone calls to arrive at a draft rulemaking document that will drastically change the LCFS program. At 5pm today, February 20th, CARB will release a preliminary draft of the proposed rulemaking documents which they note will cover a number of topics including: Revising the LCFS program carbon intensity targets and extending the program Allowing additional fuels and vehicle categories to participate in the program Incorporating a carbon capture and sequestration protocol Promotion of zero emission vehicle infrastructure Addition of a third-party verification of CI values and fuel transactions Read More...
Duty Drawback Refunds – Could This Benefit You?
At Christianson we want you to be aware of industry-related legislative changes that may impact your biofuels business. There has been a change to drawback regulations that may qualify your exports for a refund of similar product import tariffs. Here’s how it may impact you: Duty Drawback Simplification Are you currently importing and/or exporting goods as a regular part of business? If so, you could be eligible for a reimbursement of certain duties, internal revenue taxes, and fees collected on the importation of goods. These refunds are allowed upon the subsequent exportation or destruction of goods. The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 recently underwent an expansion and simplification that allows for increased Read More...
Christianson at the Distillers Grain Symposium
Christianson PLLP's Connie Lindstrom, Senior Biofuels Analyst and Jamey Cline, Business Development Director, presented at the 21st annual Distillers Grains Symposium in Indianapolis, IN on May 17, 2017. This Symposium provides the latest information on issues in the industry such as distillers grains marketing, animal nutrition, processing technologies, and governmental regulations. At this event, Connie and Jamey provided valuable information to attendees regarding the latest data and trends from the Christianson Biofuels Benchmarking system as well as current concerns regarding the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). During Connie's presentation, her focus was on creating awareness of the ethanol-to-coproduct profitability Read More...
FSMA Enforcement: 3 Penalties for Non-Compliance
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is like a tiger with shallow teeth but a long reach. There are a lot of ways to get stuck fighting with one, but few ways for him to kill you. Likewise there are a lot of ways to overlook something with your FSMA compliance strategy. However, the FDA has three primary mechanisms for enforcement when it comes to imposing direct penalties for non-compliance. Those are: 1. Hourly re-inspection fees (~$225/hour range) 2. Product recalls 3. Suspension of facility registration FSMA Background Animal food need not be shown to contain contaminants to be considered adulterated.It is adulterated simply if it was prepared, packed, or held under conditions whereby it may become contaminated. Is Read More...