USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service:update

 

The following GAIN reports were released on August 12, 2022. _______   FAS, Howard University Launch Fellowship to Expand Diversity in Foreign Service WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2022 – Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick met today with Daniel Whitley, administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), to discuss their cooperation in the creation and implementation of the new FAS Diversity Fellowship Program. Recruitment for the inaugural class of fellows is currently underway. During their meeting at Howard University, Whitley and Frederick underscored the importance of this joint endeavor to create a path for outstanding students, particularly those from minority groups historically under-represented at USDA, to pursue careers in the U.S. Foreign Service. The program will help ensure that FAS Foreign Service officers, who serve American agriculture at U.S. embassies and diplomatic missions around the globe, reflect the diversity that is the strength of the United States. The new fellowship will provide funding and support for selected students to receive master’s degrees in Agribusiness or Agricultural Economics at the accredited U.S. university of their choice. Fellows will participate in domestic and overseas internships with FAS and will be offered extensive mentoring and professional development opportunities. Howard University President Wayne Frederick (left) and FAS Administrator Daniel Whitley met at Howard on August 16, 2022, to launch the new FAS Diversity Fellowship Program. “FAS is proud to launch this program in partnership with Howard University, one of the nation’s premier Historically Black Colleges and Universities, to provide a path for outstanding minority students to become Foreign Service officers and support our mission of promoting trade and food security around the world,” Whitley said. “Howard University has a proven track record of developing students from all backgrounds into diplomatic representatives and global leaders. The promise of this collaboration will strengthen USDA’s commitment to ensuring its Foreign Service team reflects the diversity of our country.” Howard University President Frederick said, “Howard University is honored to partner with the Foreign Agricultural Service in establishing this new fellowship program. The university has been a strong proponent of increasing the representation and impact of diverse voices in policy making and implementation since its founding more than 150 years ago. With 20 years of experience administering Foreign Service fellowships with other U.S. government agencies, we are eager to begin a successful partnership that will provide new opportunities for individuals and allow our government to benefit from the unique perspectives, backgrounds and skill sets that come from embracing diversity, equity, inclusion and access.” Whitley and Frederick encourage interested individuals to apply by the Oct. 6, 2022 deadline. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, have a minimum GPA of 3.2, and begin full-time studies for a master’s degree in Agribusiness or Agricultural Economics at an accredited U.S. institution beginning in Fall 2023. Complete information is available at: http://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/diversity-fellowship-program. # Bosnia and Herzegovina: Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Export Certificate Report This report provides guidance and lists and describes certificates/documents that must accompany food and agricultural products exported to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) as required by pertaining regulations. Report last updated: July 2022.   Bosnia and Herzegovina: Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Country Report This report provides information on the food and agricultural product import requirements for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Important points of contact for U.S. food exporters are listed in the appendices. Sections updated in June 2022: Executive Summary; Section I. Food Laws; Section II. Labeling Requirements; Section IV. Food Additive Regulations; and Section V. Pesticide and Other Contaminants.   China: PRC Issues 36 New and 3 Amended National Food Safety Standards  On July 28, 2022, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), National Health Commission (NHC) announced the issuance of 36 new National Food Safety Standards and 3 revised National Food Safety Standards. The standards cover a broad range of products and specifications, including beverages, food additives, detergents, contaminants, and test methods. This is the first batch of national food safety standards issued by the NHC since September 2021. This report provides an unofficial translation of the NHC letter.   Cotton: World Markets and Trade This monthly report includes data on U.S. and global trade, production, consumption, and stocks, as well as analysis of developments affecting world trade in cotton.   Grain: World Markets and Trade This monthly report includes data on U.S. and global trade, production, consumption, and stocks, as well as analysis of developments affecting world trade in grains. Covers wheat, rice and coarse grains (corn, barley, sorghum, oats and rye).   India: India's FSSAI Issues Notification Requiring Health Certificates to Accompany Imports of Milk and Milk Products - Pork and Pork Products - Fish and Fish Products On August 3, 2022, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued notification F. No. 1829/Health Certificate/FSSAI/Imports (2021). The FSSAI notification, effective November 1, 2022, requires that all milk and milk products; pork and pork products; and fish and fish products, imported into India to be accompanied with a health certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country in the format published in the FSSAI notification as Annexure-I. The FSSAI health certificate requirement for the aforementioned food and agricultural products has not been notified to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The intent of this new measure is interpreted as being trade restrictive; specifically requiring duplication of certificates.   India: Update - Lumpy Skin Disease Spreads to Northern States of India This report is an update to FAS New Delhi’s recent GAIN-INDIA | IN2022-0066 | Outbreak of Lumpy Skin Disease in Cattle Raises Alarm in Cattle Rearing Communities in the State of Gujarat report. The outbreak of lumpy skin disease (LSD) is spreading to the northern states of Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. Indian media sources report that cattle deaths from LSD number already around 2,111 head in Rajasthan and 1,679 in Gujarat, and now 672 in Punjab, 38 in Himachal Pradesh, and 22 in the Yamunanagar district of Haryana. Since the beginning of August, over 25,000 cases are being reported in Rajasthan alone and more than 37,000 cases in Gujarat. The outbreak is rapidly becoming a cause of concern for dairy farmers, who fear incurring huge financial losses as productive cattle die off. India has not notified the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) of the latest 2022 LSD outbreak.   Oilseeds: World Markets and Trade This monthly report includes data on U.S. and global trade, production, consumption, and stocks, as well as analysis of developments affecting world trade in oilseeds. Covers oilseeds (copra, cottonseed, palm kernel, peanut, rapeseed, soybean, and sunflower seed), meal (copra, cottonseed, fish, palm kernel, peanut, rapeseed, soybean and sunflower seed) and oil (coconut, cottonseed, olive, palm, palm kernel, peanut, rapeseed, soybean and sunflower seed).   Sugar Monthly Import and Re-Export Data This monthly report provides information on U.S. sugar import and re-exports, including the fill rate of the sugar TRQs and sugar imports from Mexico.   Thailand: Rice Price - Weekly Export prices of all grades of rice remain unchanged from the previous week despite the strengthening of the Thai baht to 35.30 baht/$1.00 from the previous week’s exchange rate of 35.94 baht/$1.00. Thailand’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will hold a policy rate review on August 10, 2022, and is likely to increase the policy rate to curb inflation.   United Arab Emirates: Food Processing Ingredients The United Arab Emirates' food processing sector is expanding due to significant public and private sector investments, low regional tariffs, and a convenient geographic location bolstered by excellent infrastructure. There are over 568 food and beverage processors and manufacturers in the UAE, most of which are small to medium size. The food processing sector not only feeds UAE demand but is also focused on meeting needs regionally and throughout the world. These firms are almost entirely dependent on imported ingredients due to the UAE's low production of intermediate, commodity, and lightly processed agricultural products. Significant opportunities exist for U.S. companies to expand their business with this growing sector of the UAE economy.   World Agricultural Production Monthly report on crop acreage, yield and production in major countries worldwide. Sources include reporting from FAS’s worldwide offices, official statistics of foreign governments, and analysis of economic data and satellite imagery. The report reflects official USDA estimates released in the monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE).    World Agricultural Supply Demand and Estimates USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) forecast global supply and use of major agricultural commodities. Russian's invasion of Ukraine significantly increased the uncertainty of agricultural supply and demand conditions in the region and globally. This month's WASDE (see link above) represents USDA's ongoing assessment of the short-term impacts of the situation. For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.