Interesting following GAIN reports..

 

The following GAIN reports were released on January 25, 2023. _______   Canada: Grain and Feed Update In marketing year 2023/24, wheat production fell seven percent from the previous year to 31.95 million metric tons as severely low soil moisture in vast sections of Alberta and Saskatchewan reduced yields. This decline in production is despite a six percent increase in area planted to wheat. Wheat exports are forecast to decrease six percent year-over-year on lower exportable supplies. Exports to Saudi Arabia have rebounded after a five-year diplomatic conflict ended in May 2023. Hong Kong: The Hong Kong Wonton - Volume 4 Issue 2 Bite size local news, Post reports and activity summaries wrapped by ATO Hong Kong. In this issue: ATO Hong Kong Encourages Healthier Lifestyle with U.S. Food Ingredients; Hong Kong to Hold 5-month Day & Night Vibes Campaign; New Survey on Hongkongers’ Cross-border Consumption; Hongkongers Hunt for Roast Chicken, Laundry Detergent and Other Bargains at U.S. Warehouse Store in Shenzhen; Hongkongers Head North to Bulk Buying Megastores, Yata to Scale Down Operations; Are Hong Kong Residents Ready for Waste Charging Fees; Farms Must Tread Carefully on Swine Flu; Hong Kong Suspends Imports of Poultry from Four U.S. Counties, and areas in Poland, Japan, and South Korea; Hong Kong Suspends Imports of Raw Oysters from an area in France. India: FAIRS Annual Country Report In 2023, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) published a series of food safety notifications. The FSSAI has re-operationalized its Labeling and Display Regulations, to include a six-month implementation extension of the disclaimer for brand names and trademarks on front-of-pack labels. Other FSSAI notifications and directives include: (i) implementation of transition period for the integrated veterinary health certificate for imports of milk and milk products; (ii) draft amendments to alcoholic beverages regulations (2023); (iii) revised limit specifications for infant nutrition foods; (iv) updates on the mandatory registration requirements; (v) revision of 2021 sample testing fees for domestic and imported food products; (vi) listing of designated ports-of-entry for the import of certain high-risk food products; (vii) new standards for basmati rice and other food products; and (viii) an expanded list of food products requiring health certificates. India: FAIRS Export Certificate Report Annual In the calendar year (CY) 2023 (January-December), India's Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying/Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying published the requirement for an integrated veterinary health certificate (VHC) for the import of milk and milk products into India. The implementation date for this requirement is set for December 31, 2023. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) published an order that includes a list of Harmonized System (HS) codes for food products imported into India that require an accompanying health certificate. India: Patchy Northeast Monsoon Impacts Rabi Planting Cumulative rainfall during India's 2023 northeast monsoon was nine percent lower than the fifty-year average, according to India’s Meteorological Department (IMD), spurred by a delay in onset of nearly 20 days. As a result, reservoir storage levels are observed below the ten-year average at sixty percent capacity, and the pace of planting for rabi 2023/24 season is three percent lower than the five-year average, with significant reduction in acreage for pulses. Mexico: Grain and Feed Update Corn and wheat production for marketing year (MY) 2023/2024 are forecast lower based on less planted area and unfavorable weather conditions. Rice and sorghum production are forecast to increase. Meanwhile, Mexico’s MY 2023/2024 imports of corn, wheat, rice, and sorghum are forecast higher than in MY 2022/2023 on increased consumption. Production and trade forecasts and estimates were revised based on updated planting and trade data. Pakistan: Pakistan's Corn Exports at Record Level Corn exports in 2023/24 are forecast to reach 1.5 million tons. The good harvest and decrease in poultry feed demand resulted in a large exportable surplus at competitive prices. Vietnam, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka are the top destinations. Feed consumption in 2023/24 is reduced from 7.7 to 6.6 million tons. Vietnam: Vietnam Sets New Requirements on Nutritional Labeling for Pre-packaged Foods On December 30, 2023, Vietnam's Ministry of Health (MOH) released Circular 29/2023, which provides guidelines for Nutritional Labeling on Food Products. As of January 1, 2026, pre-packaged foods must adhere to the updated nutritional labeling requirements outlined in MOH's Circular 29/2023. These requirements encompass the labeling of nutritional ingredients and reference values for energy, protein, carbohydrates, fat, sodium, and sugar, specific to various categories of pre-packaged foods.   For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.

The following GAIN reports were released on January 22, 2023.

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European Union: EFSA Calls for Evidence on the Welfare of Beef Cattle and Turkeys on Farm

On December 8, 2023, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) launched two calls for evidence to collect data and information to support EFSA’s risk assessments to deliver scientific opinions on the welfare of beef cattle and turkeys on farm. Interested parties can submit a contribution on the topic until January 31, 2024. These evidence calls are a key step in EFSA’s development of the scientific opinions to be delivered by June 30, 2025, for beef cattle and by December 31, 2025, for turkeys. EFSA previously organized a stakeholder meeting regarding this topic on November 7-8, 2023 in Brussels.

Serbia: Exporter Guide 

Serbia offers good opportunities for the U.S. exporters of consumer-oriented agriculture products. From January-October 2023, total U.S. exports of agriculture products to Serbia reached $22.6 million, an increase of about 16 percent compared to the same period in 2022. The most significant commodities traded were almonds, whiskey, bourbon, tobacco, sweet potato, pistachios, peanuts, vegetable planting seeds, pet food, cranberries, juices and extracts from hops, wine, dietetic foods, concentrated proteins, snacks food, fish, and seafood products. This report provides U.S. food and agriculture exporters with background information and suggestions for entering the Serbian market. The statistical data are as of October 2023.

Turkiye: Citrus Annual

Fruit and vegetable prices in Türkiye reached their highest point in 2023 due to both high inflation and the country’s struggle with high yield on citrus fruits. In MY 2023/24, citrus production in Türkiye is expected to increase around 90 percent to 7 million metric tons (MMT) due to favorable weather conditions in the spring and newly planted orchards in recent years. However, it is reported by Turkish producers that there are quality and fruit size issues due to low rainfall in spring 2023. Producers and exporters note that the Support Price Stabilization Fund (DFIF), which needs to be $80 per ton, is critical to their future profitability related to surplus production.

Turkiye: Transit Regulations Summary for HPAI-Restricted Poultry

While Turkiye restricts the importation or transshipment of HPAI-restricted poultry products, the transit of these products via Turkish ports to a third-country final destination is permitted within certain guidelines.

Vietnam: Exporter Guide

This report serves as a practical guide for U.S. exporters wishing to initiate or increase exports of U.S. consumer-oriented and seafood products to Vietnam. It provides an overview of the market potential, practical tips, consumer preferences and trends, food standards and regulations, import and inspection procedures, and useful contacts.

The following GAIN reports were released on January 19, 2023.

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Thailand: Rice Price - Weekly

Rice export prices increased 1-2 percent despite the weakening of the Thai baht.

 

For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.

The following GAIN reports were released on January 18, 2023.

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Argentina: Argentina Approves GM Yeasts to Improve Bioethanol Production

On January 5, 2024, The Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Ministry of Economy authorized for the first time the commercialization of four genetically modified (GM) yeasts to enhance bioethanol production through grain fermentation. Industry supports this decision and expects it to help pave the way for a cleaner and more sustainable future in fuels.

China: New Format and Information Requested for GACC DAPQ Facility Registration

The General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) Department of Animal and Plant Quarantine (DAPQ) has provided USDA China with a new format for submitting overseas facility registration lists for commodities under their authority. Affected commodities include grains, oilseeds, pulses, fresh fruits and vegetables, pet foods, feed ingredients and additives, live animals and genetics, and some aquatic products (live), among others. The GACC DAPQ provided format includes additional mandatory information fields not currently captured on lists submitted by USDA agencies. Additionally, the new format includes an extensive list of voluntary fields. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has not notified the changes to the World Trade Organization (WTO) or provided additional rationale. This new format does not affect facilities registering under the authority of the GACC Bureau of Import and Export Food Safety (BIEFS), including those required to do so under Decree 248.

Kazakhstan: Kazakhstan Announces First Stage of 2024 Meat and Poultry Tariff Rate Quotas

On December 29, 2023, the Ministry of Trade and Integration announced the first stage of 2024 meat and poultry quotas by HS code for historic suppliers (i.e., importers). The first stage approved the distribution of 2,835 tons of beef and 31,500 tons of poultry. The 2024 TRQ volumes and rates remain unchanged from those announced in 2023. U.S. exporters are advised that shipping, transportation, and customs clearance delays related to ongoing geopolitical tensions have been reported in several Baltic and Caspian Sea ports of entry, and along ground transportation routes in Eastern Europe.

Netherlands: The Netherlands Raises Levy on Non-Alcoholic Beverages

The Netherlands is working towards a ‘sugar tax’. As a first step, the existing levy on non-alcoholic beverages (excluding dairy, soy drinks and water) was increased to €0.26 ($0.29) per liter starting January 1, 2024. The levy is the consumption tax on non-alcoholic beverages, which has been in place since the 1970s, but the modern iteration puts dairy alternatives at a disadvantage against exempt dairy products. Furthermore, research into a graduated Dutch sugar tax has been ongoing, but its future is unclear and is to be decided by the new Dutch government, once a coalition is formed. For more information, see also NL2022-0063 Dutch Reviewing Options for a Sugar Tax.

 

For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.

 

For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.