[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 72 (Tuesday, April 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 18196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9205]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 17-2003]


Foreign-Trade Zone 193--Pinellas County, FL, Expansion of 
Manufacturing Authority-Subzone 193A, Cardinal Health 409, Inc. 
(Gelatin Capsules/Pharmaceutical Products); Pinellas County, FL

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners, 
grantee of FTZ 193, requesting to expand the scope of manufacturing 
authority under zone procedures within Subzone 193A, at the Cardinal 
Health 409, Inc. (formerly R.P. Scherer Corporation) facilities in the 
St. Petersburg/Clearwater area (Pinellas County), Florida. It was 
formally filed on March 27, 2003.
    Subzone 193A was approved by the Board in 2000 at 4 sites (42.1 
acres) in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area (Pinellas County), with 
authority granted for the manufacture of soft gelatin capsules and 
certain pharmaceutical products (Board Order 1117, 65 FR 54196, 9/7/
2000).
    Subzone 193A (754 employees) is currently requesting to expand the 
scope of authority for manufacturing activity conducted under FTZ 
procedures to include the manufacture of a new anti-AIDS drug, using 
foreign and domestic ingredients. The foreign ingredient is classified 
under HTSUS 2935.00.4800 and has a 7.4% duty rate. The finished product 
is classified under HTSUS 3004.70.9010 and is duty-free. Cardinal will 
be finishing and encapsulating the finished drug under contract for a 
pharmaceutical company, which would then use the drug in clinical 
trials.
    Zone procedures would exempt Cardinal from Customs duty payments on 
foreign materials used in production for export. 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) instead of the rate otherwise applicable to the 
foreign input material (7.4%). The application indicates that the 
savings from zone procedures would help improve Cardinal'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 May 30, 2003. Rebuttal 
comments in response to material submitted during the foregoing period 
may be submitted during the subsequent 15-day period (to April 30, 
2003).
    A copy of the request will be available for public inspection at 
the Office of the Foreign-Trade Zones Board's Executive Secretary at 
address Number 1 listed above.

    Dated: April 8, 2003.
Dennis Puccinelli,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-9205 Filed 4-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P