[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 63 (Thursday, April 2, 1998)] [Notices] [Page 16250] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-8615] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS Announcement of Public Comment Period on the Elimination of the Paper Visa Requirement with the Government of the Philippines March 27, 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 the Philippines ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 bilateral provisions. On November 9, 1995, a notice was published in the Federal Register (60 FR 56576) seeking public comments on the implementation of ELVIS. Subsequently, a document published on August 18, 1997 (62 FR 43993) announced that the Government of the Philippines, starting on September 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 the Philippines. 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 the Philippines and utilization of the ELVIS system exclusively. Comments must be received on or before June 1, 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). J. Hayden Boyd, Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. [FR Doc.98-8615 Filed 4-1-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DR-F