I called today and was again talking with someone who can barely speak english. I asked if my call to AT&T was being handled by a service in India...they said that they cannot answer that question! The exact thing happened recently to my sister. She had to call re: one of her credit cards, and is usually one to chat up the person on the other end of the land, for the heck of it, asking where they are, etc.
She asked this person, and the guy said he was not allowed to tell her.
And it was obvious to her that his accent was Indian. Must be standard procedure now.
Not to digress from the main topic, but I came across an interesting government report regarding bioterrorism via imported food.
They are concerned not only with food for human consumption, but with our animal feed as well.
It's long and tedious- so I've only left the highlights which caught my attention.
3 May 2004
Source:
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/fr-cont.html
[Federal Register: May 3, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 85)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 24070-24071]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03my04-13]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
21 CFR Part 1
[Docket No. 2004D-0065]
Guidance for Industry: Questions and Answers Regarding the
Interim Final Rule on Prior Notice of Imported Food (Edition 2);
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Notice of availability of guidance.
SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a revised guidance entitled ``Questions and Answers Regarding the Interim Final Rule on Prior Notice of Imported Food
(Edition 2).''
The guidance responds to various questions raised about
section 307 of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (the Bioterrorism Act) and the agency's implementing regulation, which require the submission to FDA of prior
notice of food, including animal feed, that is imported or offered for import into the United States.
(SNIP)
Consistent with FDA's good guidance practices regulation (snip) the agency will accept comments,but it is implementing the guidance document immediately, in accordance with Sec. 10.115(g)(2),
because the agency has determined that prior public
participation is not feasible or appropriate.
(snip)
______________________________________________________
Ok GS people- what exactly does this mean? Hurry up and implement the plan (whatever it may be) without following usual procedures?