[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 34 (Monday, February 23, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8052-8053]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3790]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 06-2009]


Foreign-Trade Zone 22--Chicago, IL; Expansion of Subzone and 
Scope of Manufacturing Authority Subzone 22F; Abbott Molecular, Inc. 
(Pharmaceutical/Molecular Diagnostic Products) Des Plaines and Elk 
Grove Village, IL

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the Illinois International Port District, grantee of 
Foreign-Trade Zone 22, requesting authority to expand the subzone and 
scope of manufacturing authority under zone procedures within Subzone 
22F at the pharmaceutical and molecular diagnostic facilities of Abbott 
Molecular, Inc. (Abbott), located in Des Plaines and Elk Grove Village, 
Illinois. The application was submitted pursuant to the provisions of 
the FTZ Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 81a-81u), and the regulations of the 
Board (15 CFR Part 400). It was formally filed on February 17, 2009.
    Subzone 22F was approved by the FTZ Board in 1992, at Abbott's 
pharmaceutical plants (4 sites, 791 acres with 108 buildings totaling 
6,441,803 square feet, 30 percent of which is devoted to 
manufacturing), located in North Chicago and Lake County, Illinois. The 
facilities (9,400 employees) are used to produce and/or distribute a 
wide range of pharmaceutical products (Board Order No. 611, 57 FR 
61045, 12/23/92). Expansion of manufacturing authority was approved on 
8/30/99 (Board Order No. 1051, 64 FR 48578, 09/07/99).
    Abbott is now requesting authority to expand the subzone to include 
two additional sites: Site 5: (17 acres, one building totaling 208,000 
square feet, 455 employees) warehouse facility, located at 1300 East 
Touhy, Des Plaines, Illinois, and Site 6: (one acre, one building 
totaling 14,400 square feet, 2 employees), warehouse facility, located 
at 565 Busse Road, Elk Grove Village, Illinois. The facilities are used 
to warehouse and distribute molecular diagnostic equipment (HTSUS 
8979.89.9897, duty rate 2.5%). The applicant is also requesting 
authority to expand its scope of manufacturing authority to include 
diagnostic equipment and components (HTSUS

[[Page 8053]]

8419.89, 8471.49, 8471.50, 8479.89, 8479.90, 9027.30, 9027.50, 9027.90, 
duty rates range from 2.5% to 4.2%) under zone procedures. Abbott is 
also requesting to include within its manufacturing scope a broad range 
of inputs and pharmaceutical final products that it may produce under 
FTZ procedures in the future. (New major activity in these inputs/
products would require review by the FTZ Board.) The duty rates for 
these inputs and final products range from duty-free to 20 percent. The 
specific input and product categories are listed in the application, 
which is available in the ``Reading Room'' section of the Board's Web 
site (see below).
    Zone procedures could exempt Abbott from customs duty payments on 
foreign materials used in production for export (some 60 percent of 
shipments). 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 the finished products (duty-free to 4.2%) instead of 
the rates otherwise applicable to the foreign input materials (duty-
free to 10.7%). Abbott also expects to realize additional savings 
through the use of weekly entry procedures. The application indicates 
that the savings from zone procedures would help improve the plant's 
international competitiveness.
    In accordance with the Board's regulations, Kathleen Boyce of the 
FTZ Staff is designated examiner to investigate the application and 
report to the Board.
    Public comment on the application is invited from interested 
parties. Submissions (original and 3 copies) shall be addressed to the 
Board's Executive Secretary at the address listed below. The closing 
period for their receipt is April 24, 2009. Rebuttal comments in 
response to material submitted during the foregoing period may be 
submitted during the subsequent 15-day period (to May 11, 2009).
    A copy of the application will be available for public inspection 
at the Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, 
Room 2111, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230-0002, and in the ``Reading Room'' section of the 
Board's Web site, which is accessible via www.trade.gov/ftz. For 
further information, contact Kathleen Boyce at [email protected] or (202) 482-1346.

    Dated: February 17, 2009.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-3790 Filed 2-20-09; 8:45 am]
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