Florida Conducts Industry Seminar
on Citrus Trade with China
On June 28, the Florida
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services sponsored
a well-attended seminar in Vero Beach, Florida, designed
to educate Florida citrus industry officials on how to do
business in China's recently opened market for U.S.
citrus. The seminar was organized in part to address the
problems that have been encountered by several of the
inaugural shipments. Topics covered included key
logistical and technical issues of concern such as
approved ports of entry, phytosanitary requirements, and
strict packaging and labeling requirements. In addition,
the program focused on background issues of interest,
including cultural differences, population demographics
and consumer wealth, and where to focus advertising
efforts. Although a bilateral agreement was reached in
April 1999 that opened up China's market to U.S. citrus,
it was not until March 2000 that Chinese officials issued
new rules governing the imports. Industry sources
estimate that approximately 25 container loads of Florida
grapefruit were shipped to China following the official
market opening, which coincided with the tail end of the
Florida shipping season.
Mexico Re-Opens Market To
California Apricots
Effective June 26, 2000,
Mexico re-opened its market to California apricots.
Mexico had canceled the California apricot program on
June 13, 2000, following the detection of pests on one
shipment, including peach twig bore and the omnivorous
leaf bore. Although these pests were not identified in
the work plan as being of quarantine concern, Mexico
insisted that a risk assessment be presented to its
domestic fruit industry. Moreover, the Mexicans have
noted that a revision of the work plan's identified pests
of concern will take place at the end of the current
shipping season. Mexico is the second largest destination
for California apricots. In 1999, California exported a
record 3,800 tons of apricots to Mexico, valued at more
than $3 million.
Korean Delegation Tours U.S.
Citrus Areas
A Korean delegation traveled
to U.S. citrus areas July 18-27 to review fruit fly
regulatory activities in California and Florida. Korea's
market for imported oranges was liberalized in 1995 with
the establishment of a tariff rate quota (TRQ) system.
Since then there have been periodic disruptions of trade
due to questionable TRQ administration and phytosanitary
policy irregularities. Korean acceptance of APHIS exotic
fruit fly quarantine zones is a key issue affecting the
future of U.S. citrus exports to Korea's large and
growing market. This industry-funded trip is part of
USDA's continuing effort to work to resolve the
quarantine issue with Korea on the basis of sound
science. In addition to this trip, APHIS is providing
information on all aspects of the pests and their life
cycles to describe how U.S. quarantine zones are created.
Prune Production Forecast up 12
Percent in 2000/2001
The 2000/2001 California
prune crop (August 2000 - July 2001) is forecast at
181,436 tons, up 12 percent from 1999/2000. Bearing
acreage is estimated at 86,000 acres, up 4 percent from
the previous year. Virtually all of the prunes in the
United States are produced in California. The 2000/2001
prune season is progressing well, with the major prune
growing areas experiencing a heavier fruit set than last
year. On average, 46 percent of the California prune crop
is exported. To date (August 1999 - April 2000), the
value of U.S. prune exports are down 7 percent to $101
million, compared with the same period last year, due to
smaller fruit size. Major export markets are Japan,
Germany, and Italy.
Country-Of-Origin Labeling Rules
Trouble for Small Retailers
On July 1, 2000, the
Japanese Agricultural Standards Law mandated that all
retail stores show the country of origin on many
perishable food items. According to media reports, while
major supermarkets and department stores have revised or
improved their labeling systems to indicate the country
of origin, small retailers are failing to conform to the
new regulations. An official of the Ministry of
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) said that they
want to encourage small retailers to follow the rules
through industry organizations.
New Agriculture Minister Appointed
in Japan
The new Mori Cabinet was
launched on Tuesday, July 4. Yoichi Tani was appointed
the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Mr.
Tani's political goal, according to news reports, is to
revitalize farming communities and villages in
mountainous areas. He previously served as chairman of a
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Special Committee on
depopulation and an LDP research commission on
agricultural policy. Media sources indicate the current
cabinet will be reshuffled again in December this year.
Japan's Ministry of Health to
Adopt Ag Ministry's GM Food Labeling Policy
On July 13, the Ministry of
Health and Welfare Special Labeling Committee issued its
final recommendations for labeling of genetically
modified foods. The Committee decided mandatory GM food
labeling is necessary "in order to clearly reveal
the contents of a food". However, recognizing the
practical limitations of mandatory labeling of processed
GM foods, the Committee decided to limit labeling to the
same 24 foods under the Ministry of Agriculture's policy,
to be implemented on April 1, 2001. On this date, 24
whole and semi-processed foods made from corn and
soybeans must be labeled as "GM" or "not
segregated" unless manufacturers use non-GM
ingredients (for details see attaché report JA9154 which
is available online at: /scriptsw/attacherep/default.asp).
Australia's Notification of Methyl
Bromide Fumigation Requirements
Comments on Australia's
methyl bromide fumigation requirements are due by August
20. To see the actual text, go to the AQIS website at http://www.aqis.gov.au/docs/appolicy/spsaus.htm and scroll down to AQIS
Quarantine Treatments Aspects and Procedures
(G/SPS/N/AUS/118). Comments may be submitted directly to
AQIS or through Carolyn Wilson, FAS/Food Safety and
Technical Services Division by fax (202-690-0677).
The following is the second
installment in a series of four from an article written
by John Griefer, Director, Trade Support Team/Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on the WTO
Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement:
Harmonizationas
a Principle of the SPS Agreement
The SPS Agreement encourages
but does not require countries to harmonize their SPS
measures, to the greatest extent possible, by basing
their health measures on relevant international standards
(Anon., 1994, Article 3.1: Harmonization is intended to
reduce unnecessary variances between countries' technical
standards - differences which can often be the source of
trade friction).
The SPS Agreement defines
harmonization as "the establishment, recognition,
and application of common sanitary and phytosanitary
measures by different countries" (Anon., 1994, Annex
A). The SPS Agreement recognizes three international
standard-setting bodies as the official entities for
developing health-related standards, guidelines, and
recommendations:
These international bodies
include:
Codex Alimentarius
for food safety standards
International Plant
Protection Convention (IPPC) for plant health
standards, and
Office of
International Epizootics (OIE) for animal health
standards
Under the SPS Agreement, a
phytosanitary measure which is based on or conforms to an
existing and relevant international standard is presumed
to be in compliance with all aspects of the SPS Agreement
(Anon., Article 3.2). International standards are
referred to as "safe harbor standards" in the
sense that their use makes that measure immune to
challenge. In these instances, a risk assessment is
unnecessary. However, if a country chooses not to use an
existing international standard, that country is required
to base its measure on a risk assessment and be prepared
to notify the reasons for their deviating from the
relevant international standard (Anon., Article 3.3 and
Annex B.5).
U.S.-Vietnam
Trade Agreement to Provide Lower Tariffs, Enhanced Export
Opportunities, for Horticultural Products
The recently concluded
bilateral trade agreement between the United States and
Vietnam will reduce tariffs on horticultural products by
an average of 30 percent by 2004 and, in the process,
bring about expanded export opportunities in this
promising market. For example, tariffs are expected to
fall from 40 percent ad valorem to 15 percent for
strawberries, cranberries and kiwifruit; 40 percent to 25
percent for grapes, raisins, apples and pears; and from
30 percent to 20 percent for fresh and chilled tomatoes,
onions, garlic, cauliflower, lettuce, carrots, cucumbers,
eggplant, mushrooms and frozen potatoes. In CY1999,
direct U.S. horticultural and tropical product exports to
Vietnam were valued at $8.4 million, up from $5.3 million
in the preceding year. Beverage bases ($4.5 million),
table grapes ($950,000), apples ($655,000), frozen sweet
corn ($529,000), and raisins ($150,000) were the leading
export items in that year.
USDA
Announces Major Purchase of Pears
USDA will purchase 64
million pounds (1.4 million cases) of canned pears. The
fruit will be donated to the school lunch program and to
needy families through food banks and other food
assistance organizations. Pear growers, along with many
other farmers and ranchers, are experiencing a difficult
year, made worse by a major California cooperative's
bankruptcy filing. The cooperative had contracted with
many growers to purchase this year's pear crop. The
uncertainty generated by the bankruptcy and canning
capacity concerns in the upcoming season has created a
surplus of pears, which today's action is intended to
alleviate. Invitations to bid, including final details
and specifications, will be mailed to pear vendors at a
later date. Deliveries will be made Oct. 1, 2000 through
Sept. 30, 2001. Further information can be obtained from
the Commodity Procurement Branch, Fruit and Vegetable
Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Room 2548-S, Washington, DC
20090-6456, telephone (202)720-4517 or on the web at www.ams.usda.gov/cp/.
More than
40,000 Comments Received on Revised Organic Food
Standards
The U.S. Department of
Agriculture announced on July 18, 2000 that 40,774 public
comments were submitted on its revised National Organic
Program proposed rule. The comment period for the
proposed rule, which would establish national standards
for the production and handling of organically produced
products, closed on June 12. A final rule is expected by
the end of 2000. The proposal was published in the March
13 Federal Register, and also can be found on the
National Organic Program home page: www.ams.usda.gov/nop. All comments can be viewed at
this same site.
USDA
Solicits Petitions to Amend List of Substances Used in
Organic Production and Handling
The U.S. Department of
Agriculture invites interested parties to petition the
National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) to amend the
proposed National List of Allowed and Prohibited
Substances (National List). Petitioners may recommend
substances for inclusion on or removal from the National
List. The proposed National List is a part of the March
13, 2000, revised National Organic Program (NOP)
proposal. Specifically, the National List identifies
those synthetic substances that may be used and the
non-synthetic substances that cannot be used in organic
production and handling. All amendments to the proposed
National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances will
be published in the Federal Register for public comment.
Individuals wishing to submit a petition to amend the
List or obtain additional information may contact Robert
Pooler at USDA/AMS/TMP/NOP, Room 2510 So., P.O. Box
96456, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456; phone 202-720-3252;
fax 202-205-7808 or via e-mail at robert.pooler@usda.gov. Details will appear in the July
13 Federal Register. For more information, please see the
program's website at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop. The final NOP rule is expected
to be published in the Federal Register by the end of the
year.
Cultivated
Blueberry Producers and Importers Approve National
Promotion Program
Producers and importers of
cultivated blueberries have voted to approve a national
promotion program. The vote was taken in a referendum
conducted by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service from
March 13 through April 14. In the referendum, 67.8
percent of those who voted favored implementation of the
order. Those who voted in favor represented 73.2 percent
of the volume of cultivated blueberries represented in
the referendum. Any current producer or importer of 2,000
pounds or more of cultivated blueberries during the 1999
calendar year was eligible to vote. The program will
become effective 30 days after final publication in the
Federal Register. The program will be funded by an
assessment of $12 per ton of domestic cultivated
blueberries and $12 per ton of fresh and processed
imported cultivated blueberries starting in 2001.
