[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 39 (Friday, February 27, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 10004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4976]


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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS


Announcement of Public Comment Period on the Elimination of the 
Paper Visa Requirement with the Government of Malaysia

February 23, 1998.
AGENCY: Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA).

ACTION: Seeking public comments on the elimination of the paper visa 
requirement with the Government of Malaysia.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori Mennitt, Office of Textiles and 
Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-3821.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Authority: Section 204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956, as 
amended (7 U.S.C. 1854); Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as 
amended.

    The Electronic Visa Information System (ELVIS) allows foreign 
governments to electronically transfer shipment information to the U.S. 
Customs Service on textile and apparel shipments subject to 
quantitative restrictions. On November 9, 1995, a notice was published 
in the Federal Register (60 FR 56576) seeking public comments on the 
implementation of ELVIS. Subsequently, documents published on April 17, 
1997 (62 FR 18758) announced that the Government of Malaysia, starting 
on May 1, 1997, would begin an ELVIS test implementation phase. This 
test phase does not eliminate the requirement for a valid paper visa to 
accompany each shipment for entry into the United States.
    As a result of successful use of the dual visa system, preparations 
are under way to move beyond the current dual system to the paperless 
ELVIS system with Malaysia. However, exempt goods will still require a 
proper and correct exempt certification.
    The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements is 
requesting interested parties to submit comments on the elimination of 
the paper visa requirement for Malaysia and utilization of the ELVIS 
system exclusively. Comments must be received on or before April 28, 
1998. Comments may be mailed to Troy H. Cribb, Chairman, Committee for 
the Implementation of Textile Agreements, room 3001, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.
    The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has 
determined that this action falls within the foreign affairs exception 
of the rulemaking provisions of 5 U.S.C.553(a)(1).
Troy H. Cribb,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. 98-4976 Filed 2-26-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F