NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
(Docket 1-93)
Foreign-Trade Zone 61--San Juan, Puerto Rico; Application for Subzone;
SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceutical Plant, Cidra, Puerto Rico
Monday, February 8, 1993
An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the
Board) by the Puerto Rico Commercial and Farm Credit and Development
Corporation, grantee of FTZ 61, requesting special-purpose subzone status
for the pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities of the SmithKline Beecham
Company (SBC) in Cidra, Puerto Rico, within the San Juan Customs port of
entry. The application was submitted pursuant to the provisions of the
Foreign-Trade Zones Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 81a-81u), and the regulations
of the Board (15 CFR part 400). It was formally filed on January 15, 1993.
SBC's plant (500,000 square feet) is located at Road #172, Km. 9.1, 35
miles south of San Juan. The facilities (600 employees) are used to produce
a wide range of pharmaceutical products including gastrointestinals,
antibiotics, cardiovasculars, antihistamines, analgesics, arthritis
medications, hematinics, and neurologicals.
Zone procedures would exempt SBC from Customs duty payments on foreign
materials used in production for export. On domestic sales, the company
would be able to choose the duty rates that apply to the finished products
(3.4%- 6.9%) with regard to two foreign ingredients: Nabumetone (duty
rate--11 percent) and paroxetine (duty rate--6.9 percent). The application
indicates that zone savings will help improve the plant'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 the address below. The closing period for their receipt is
April 9, 1993.
Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted during the foregoing
period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-day period (to April 26,
1993).
A copy of the application and accompanying exhibits will be available for
public inspection at each of the following locations:
Office of the District Director, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room G-55,
Federal Building, Chardon Avenue, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918.
Office of the Executive Secretary,
Foreign-Trade Zones Board,
U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 3716,
14th & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20230.
Dated: January 26, 1993.
John J. Da Ponte, Jr.,
Executive Secretary.
(FR Doc. 93-2840 Filed 2-5-93; 8:45 am)