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| Horticultural & Tropical Products Division | Return to the H&TP Home Page |
February 8, 2002
United Kingdom’s (UK) Food Standards Agency Calls for Ban on Iranian Pistachios
The
UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) is calling for a ban on pistachio imports from
Iran following a survey that found high levels of cancer-causing mycotoxins in
10 percent of pistachio samples. The
offending products have been removed from sale and the FSA wants the European
Commission (EC) to consider re-instating a 1997 ban on Iranian pistachios.
The EC has issued Rapid Alert warnings across the European Union.
Despite a temporary suspension of Iranian imports in 1997 and a more
rigorous testing regime since then, all of the samples over the limits in the
survey were imported from Iran. In
calendar year 2000, the UK imported 366 metric tons (MT) of pistachios from Iran
with a value of $1.4 million. During
that same time period, the UK imported 58 MT of pistachios from the United
States with a value of $339,000. In
calendar year 2000, the European Union (EU) imported 37,000 MT of pistachios
from Iran worth $135 million. During
that same time period, the EU imported 6,437 MT of pistachios from the United
States with a value of $28 million.
USDA Lifts Some Restrictions On Imports of Japanese
Unshu Oranges
On January 31, 2002, USDA announced that it would lift some import restrictions on Japanese oranges, which were banned because of concerns of citrus canker. USDA said unshu oranges grown on Japan’s Honshu Island and Kyushu Island would be allowed into the United States under certain conditions. Unshu oranges from Honshu Island must first be treated with methyl bromide before shipment to the United States. Kyushu Island oranges may only be imported into non-citrus producing areas of the United States. USDA also said it removed the requirement for individually wrapping unshu oranges imported from Japan and Korea.
Mexico Still Not in
Agreement on Apple Reference Price
On January 9, 2002, the Mexican courts ruled for a preliminary suspension of the 2001/02 minimum reference price of $11.05 per 42-pound box for U.S. Red and Golden Delicious apples. The preliminary suspension responded to complaints filed by the Mexican apple industry, alleging that U.S. exporters committed 6 violations of the 1998 apple dumping suspension agreement. The Mexican courts have not yet issued a decision regarding which reference price would apply to U.S. apple imports in the 2001/02 season. However, because the current apple reference price is suspended, imports will probably have to go back to the previous reference price of $11.48 per box. Mexico implemented a 101 percent anti-dumping duty on U.S. Red and Golden Delicious apples in September 1997. That was subsequently lifted in March 1998 following the suspension agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, all U.S. shipments of Red and Golden Delicious apples to Mexico must comply with a minimum reference FOB price per standard 42-pound box. The minimum price is based upon a three-year average of FOB prices of the two varieties, as reported by the Washington Growers Clearing House Association. The agreement runs through 2003 and calls for the minimum prices to be adjusted every November 1 to reflect the average of the preceding three crop years. Mexico is the largest market for U.S. apples, with shipments valued at $125 million in MY 2000/01.
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