Topics in Brief

• Author: International Law Group

EU amends telecommunications, pharmaceutical and medical requirements under EU-U S. Agreement on Mutual Recognition

The EU Joint Committee under the Agreement on Mutual Recognition (MRA) between the EU and the U.S. has amended several Sectoral Annexes regarding telecommunications equipment, electromagnetic compatibility, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and medical devices. These Sectoral Agreements describe the technical requirements for the simplified sales of products in the EU and U.S. markets. The changes include, for example, a new definition of what "good manufacturing practice" for pharmaceuticals means in the U.S., and a list of medical devices that require premarket evaluations in the U.S. before sale in the EU. - The MRA which entered into force in December 1998 covers products representing more than $60 billion in annual trade between the EU and the U.S. It allows conformity assessments such as product tests, inspections and certifications to be conducted in the U.S. for EU requirements and vice versa. Thus, the MRA will eventually eliminate duplicate conformity assessments for telecommunications and computer equipment, electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility, good manufacturing practices for pharmaceutical products, medical devices, and safety of recreational craft. Citation: Decision 1/2000 and 2/2000, 2001 O.J. of the European Communities (L 34) 55 & 68, 3 February 2001; U.S. Trade Representative press release 01- 05, January 17, 2001.

U S. statute speeds up citizenship process for foreign-born minors

Under prior U.S. law, adopted foreign-born children of a U.S. citizen did not automatically become citizens upon their immigration to the U.S. Their parents had to apply to the Immigration and Naturalization Service for a Certificate of Citizenship, a process that could take months, if not years. Streamlining the road to citizenship for foreign-born children of U.S. citizen parents who did not acquire U.S. nationality at birth, the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 entered into force on February 27...