Organic Trade
Association Receives Export Promotion Funds
On June 9, Secretary
Glickman announced fiscal year 2000 allocations of $90
million to 65 U.S. trade organizations for export
promotion activities under the Market Access Program
(MAP). Under the MAP, USDA enters into agreements with
U.S. agricultural trade organizations, state regional
trade groups (SRTGs), and cooperatives to share the costs
of overseas marketing and promotional activities in
specified countries. The Organic Trade Association has
been allocated $48,520 for 2000. This will be the second
year OTA has participated in the program.
Japan Introduces
New Organic Standards
On June 10, Japan’s
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF)
officially introduced its new organic production
standards and certification system. Enforcement is set
for April 1, 2001. Traders report limited supplies of
domestically grown products that meet MAFF's new
standards and, as a result, predict a shift away from
foods marketed as "organic" to alternative
labels not subject to third-party verification (e.g.
"reduced chemical", "healthy
vegetables"). However, other trading houses project
increased import opportunities as buyers broaden their
search to locate overseas products that meet the new
standards. Buyers are reportedly most interested in fresh
and frozen vegetables, rice, soybeans, and juice
concentrates.
Danish Eye
Organic Export Opportunities
A recent survey of 88 Danish
small- to medium-sized organic companies revealed that 33
were already exporting and that 35 were considering it.
The organic products represented in the survey included
dairy products, fruits, vegetables, cereals, flour,
bread, cookies, meat, eggs among others, although most of
the exporting companies also exported conventional food.
Major markets were the United Kingdom, Germany and
Sweden; only a few companies cited France, the United
States and Austria as markets. On the subject of market
assistance, 70 percent of survey respondents expressed
interest in learning more about national requirements for
organic production, 25 percent noting they had
difficulties in getting approval for their products in
other countries. Sweden was cited as the most difficult
country in this regard.
For more news on organics,
see HTP’s monthly newsletter "Organic
Perspectives," available at the HTP home page: www.fas.usda.gov/htp/organics/organics.html. The newsletter contains reports
on organics from around the world gleaned from attache
reports, trips made by HTP’s organics staff, and
other sources. The newsletter also covers items of
interest about the U.S. national organic program and the
domestic organic industry. A list of upcoming
conferences, trade shows and other events is included in
every issue.
(For further
information, contact Janise Zygmont at 202-720-1176.)
