[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 26, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49162-49163]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24080]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 39-2001]


Foreign-Trade Zone 7--Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Request for 
Manufacturing Authority, IPR Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Pharmaceuticals)

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Corporation 
(PRIDCO), grantee of FTZ 7, on behalf of IPR Pharmaceuticals (IPR), 
requesting authority to manufacture pharmaceutical products under FTZ 
procedures within FTZ 7--Site L-164-0-63, in Canovanas, Puerto Rico. 
The application was formally filed on September 18, 2001.
    The application requests authority on behalf of IPR to manufacture 
pharmaceutical products and their intermediates under zone procedures 
within FTZ 7--Site L-164-0-63. The IPR facility (up to 800 employees) 
is located at Carr 188, San Isidro Industrial Park, Canovanas, Puerto 
Rico (5 bldgs., 209,944 sq. ft., on 25.4 acres).
    The facility is currently used for the manufacture of 
pharmaceutical products and their intermediates. The application 
requests a scope of authority for manufacturing activity conducted 
under FTZ procedures at the zone site to include general categories of 
inputs that have recently been approved by the Board for other 
pharmaceutical plants. They include chemically pure sugars, empty 
capsules for pharmaceutical use, protein concentrates, natural 
magnesium phosphates and carbonates, gypsum, anhydrite and plasters, 
petroleum jelly, paraffin and waxes, sulfuric acid, other inorganic 
acids or compounds of nonmetals, ammonia, zinc oxide, titanium oxides, 
fluorides, chlorates, sulfates, salts of oxometallic acids, radioactive 
chemical elements, compounds of rare earth metals, acyclic 
hydrocarbons, derivatives of phenols or peroxides, acetals and 
hemiacetals, phosphoric esters and their salts, diazo-compounds, glands 
for therapeutic uses, wadding, gauze and bandages, pharmaceutical 
glaze, hair preparations, lubricating preparations, albumins, prepared 
glues and adhesives, catalytic preparations, diagnostic or laboratory 
reagents, prepared binders, acrylic polymers, self-adhesive plates and 
sheets, other articles of vulcanized rubber, plastic cases, cartons, 
boxes, printed books, brochures and similar printed matter, carboys, 
bottles, and flasks, stoppers, caps, and lids, aluminum foil, tin 
plates and sheets, taps, cocks and valves, and medical instruments and 
appliances. Materials sourced from abroad represent some 50%-65% of 
finished product value.
    Zone procedures would exempt IPR from Customs duty payments on 
foreign materials used in production for export. Some 30-40 percent of 
the plant's shipments are exported. On domestic shipments, the company 
would be able to defer Customs duty payments on foreign materials, and 
to choose the duty rate that applies to finished products (duty free-
14.2%) instead of the rates otherwise applicable to the foreign input 
materials (duty free-20%) (noted above). IPR would also exempt duty 
payments on foreign merchandise that becomes scrap or waste resulting 
from the production process. FTZ procedures will also help IPR 
implement a more efficient and cost-effective system for handling 
Customs requirements because of direct delivery. The application 
indicates that the savings from zone procedures would help improve 
IPR's international competitiveness.
    In accordance with the Board's regulations, a member of the FTZ 
staff has been designated examiner to investigate the application and 
report to the Board.
    Public comment is invited from interested parties. Submissions 
(original and 3 copies) shall be addressed to the Board's Executive 
Secretary at one of the following addresses:
    1. Submissions Via Express/Package Delivery Services: Foreign-
Trade-Zones Board, U.S. Department of Commerce, Franklin Court 
Building--Suite 4100W, 1099 14th St. NW., Washington, DC 20005; or
    2. Submissions Via the U.S. Postal Service: Foreign-Trade-Zones 
Board, U.S. Department of Commerce, FCB--Suite 4100W, 1401 Constitution 
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20230.
    The closing period for their receipt is November 13, 2001. Rebuttal 
comments in response to material submitted during the foregoing period 
may be submitted during the subsequent 5-day period (to November 19, 
2001).
    A copy of the application and accompanying exhibits will be 
available for public inspection at the Office of the

[[Page 49163]]

Foreign-Trade Zones Board's Executive Secretary at address Number 1 
listed above, and at the U.S. Department of Commerce Export Assistance 
Center, 525 F.D. Roosevelt Ave., Suite 905, San Juan, PR 00918.

    Dated: September 19, 2001.
Dennis Puccinelli,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-24080 Filed 9-25-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P