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| Horticultural & Tropical Products Division | Return to the H&TP Home Page |
November 6, 2000
U.S. Avocados Allowed into Chile
On September 29, 2000, the Agriculture and Livestock Service
(SAG) of the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture announced its final
rule allowing U.S. avocados into Chile. The rule will take effect
on December 1, 2000 and requires that exports of U.S. avocados to
Chile be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate and be
inspected by SAG officials. Previously, U.S. avocados were not
allowed into Chile due to pest concerns. As a large producer of
avocados, Chile has been able to meet its own high consumption
demands with very little competition from imports. However, with
a large U.S. crop on the horizon, the likelihood of lower prices,
low tariffs, and the U.S. advantage of counter seasonality, this
access offers a significant opportunity to U.S. avocado
exporters. Mexico, the world’s largest avocado producer and
main U.S. competitor, does not currently have access to the
Chilean market, due to phytosanitary concerns. U.S. avocado
industry sources estimate the potential for U.S. avocado sales to
Chile to be around $2 million annually. For marketing year
1998/99, U.S. avocado exports to all countries totaled $7
million.
USDA Reduces Restrictions on Imports of Chilean Fruit
USDA recently completed its review of the Mediterranean fruit
fly trapping and eradication efforts in Chile’s Metropolitan
Region which was implemented by SAG. On October 31, 2000, USDA
announced that it is no longer regulating the Metropolitan Region
of Chile for Mediterranean fruit flies. Since May, APHIS has
imposed restrictions on the importation of certain varieties of
fruit from Region 1, the northen-most part of Chile, and the
Metropolitan Region, which includes greater Santiago, due to the
threat of the Mediterranean fruit fly. Effective immediately,
APHIS has reduced the quarantined area of the Metropolitan Region
and acknowledged biologically regulated areas established by SAG.
All Chilean fruit that is a host for the Medfly and originates
from these regions must undergo treatment before or during export
or upon arrival in the United States order to prevent the spread
of this pest across U.S. borders.
National Organic Standards Board to Meet
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Organic
Standards Board (NOSB) will meet November 15-17, 2000 at the USDA
Economic Research Service, 1800 M Street, N.W., South Tower,
Waugh Auditorium, 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. Meetings will run
from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on November 15th, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30
p.m. on November 16th, and 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Nov. 17th.
All meetings are open to the public. At this meeting, the NOSB
will receive committee reports and updates from the Aquatic Task
Force Working Group and USDA's National Organic Program, and
review materials for possible inclusion on or removal from the
National List of Approved and Prohibited Substances. Materials to
be reviewed at the meeting are periacetic acid, calcium
borogluconate, animal enzymes, leather meal, and sodium chlorate.
The NOSB, which grew out of the Organic Foods Production Act of
1990, met for the first time in Washington, D.C., in March 1992
and currently has five committees working on various aspects of
the program. The committees are: Accreditation, Crops, Livestock,
Materials, and Processing. For more information, call (202)
720-3252.
Canada to Announce New Proposal for Nutritional Labeling; Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Exempt
Health Canada has announced it will develop new nutrional
labeling regulations following a two-year review. The proposed
changes include mandatory nutrition labeling for domestic and
imported packaged foods and for the first time, allow companies
to put claims about the health benefits of foods on packaging.
Currently, nutrition labeling in Canada is voluntary. The new
policy proposal for nutrition labeling will be mandatory on all
foods. Exceptions are expected to be provided to small
businesses, restaurants, and food service, foods packaged at
retail, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Final regulations are
expected to be in place in 2001, with a two-year window for full
implementation.
Czech Market Shows Promise for Select Horticultural Products
Due to unfavorable economic conditions in the Czech Republic the last few years, demand for U.S. horticultural products, particularly luxury products, has declined. However, according to a recent report from the U.S. Embassy in the Czech Republic, good market prospects exist for almonds, citrus, dried prunes, frozen meals, juice concentrates, raisins, sauces and salsa, wine and other products. During year-to-date (January - August 2000), the United States exported $2.3 million in horticultural products, up 50 percent from last year during the same period. Dried fruit, tree nuts, and fresh deciduous fruits experienced the greatest growth in U.S. horticultural exports. The greatest decline in U.S. horticultural exports to the Czech Republic was in hops and vegetable preparations. U.S. almond exports, valued at $1.05 million make up almost 50 percent of U.S. horticultural exports to the Czech Republic.
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