FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE
U.S. MISSION TO THE EUROPEAN UNION

Last update: September 16, 2010

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About the Office of Agricultural Affairs

The Office of Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Mission to the European Union is composed of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), both agencies of the United States Department of Agriculture.

FAS

FAS/USEU represents the interests of U.S. farmers and the U.S. food and agricultural sector in the EU.  Our main  mission is to improve market access for U.S. products and to promote U.S. agricultural exports to the EU.  With a staff of 4 American officers and 7 local staff members, we participate in U.S. agricultural trade formulation with the purpose of opening and/or maintaining EU markets for U.S. food and agricultural products.  This includes negotiations to reduce and eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade such as un-scientific or un-substantiated sanitary and phytosanitary regulations.  Our office is also the focal point for information gathering, dissemination and analysis of EU legislative and regulatory actions and how they may affect U.S. agricultural exports.

We provide specialized research and analysis related to:

EU legislation - we monitor EU legislation from the discussion phase through implementation and assess the possible effects of EU policies on U.S. agriculture.  We attempt to influence EU decision-makers to adopt trade provisions that are open and fair to U.S. interests.
EU compliance - we monitor and report on EU compliance with WTO rules and the EU's bilateral trade agreements with the U.S.
EU trade - we analyze and disseminate information on EU trade with third countries where U.S. agricultural products often compete with EU products.
U.S. programs - we represent U.S. agriculture in Brussels and explain U.S. programs and legislation to EU audiences.

FAS Mission statement:: linking U.S. agriculture to the world to enhance export opportunities and global food security

APHIS

The APHIS office in Brussels carries out the following activities:

Represent the U.S. in sanitary and phytosanitary standard-setting organizations.
Serves as technical experts on matters of plant and animal health.
Promotes the health of plant and animal resources as well as facilitating their movement in the global marketplace.
Resolves trade impediments related to sanitary issues.

Contact information:
Phone (32-2) 508-2762
Fax (32-2) 511-0918

Staff:

Peter Fernandez, Minister-Counselor (Peter.Fernandez@aphis.usda.gov) 
Russell A. Duncan, Attache (Russell.A.Duncan@aphis.usda.gov)
Xavier Mennig, Agricultural Specialist (Xavier.Mennig@aphis.usda.gov)  
Relindis Joosten, Program Management Specialist (Relindis.J.Joosten@aphis.usda.gov)
Maria del Pilar Bilotte, Administrative Assistant (Mariadelpilar.Bilotte@aphis.usda.gov)