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In July 2022, the government of Canada published guidelines that reinforce Canada’s product-based approach and provides guidance on how Canada’s Novel Food Regulations are applied to products of plant breeding. The government is now revising regulations for animal feed and environmental release. Publication of revisions is expected in spring 2023.

On December 12, 2022, Canada's federal government launched consultations on its first Sustainable Agriculture Strategy. The Strategy is meant to be a comprehensive tool to provide an integrated and coordinated approach for addressing environmental issues in the agricultural sector.

New Zealand continues to be an important market for U.S. agricultural products. In 2021, despite logistical and other challenges because of COVID-19, New Zealand’s imports continued to grow to a record US$ 625 million of U.S. agricultural products.

Canada is the United States’ largest export market for pet food, specifically dog and cat food, and the third-largest export destination for all U.S. agricultural products. Canada is also the largest U.S. export market for high-value consumer-oriented products due to proximity, refined transportation logistics, a free trade agreement, and a science-based regulatory environment.

Canadian apple production is forecast to grow four percent for market year (MY) 2022/23, as production rebounds in Ontario and Quebec following adverse growing conditions in MY 2021/22. Pear production is forecast to grow on a bumper crop in Ontario, especially of the Bartlett variety.

The federal government announced that dairy, poultry and egg farmers and processors will receive CAD $1.7 billion dollars in compensation for impacts of the United States-Canada-Mexico Agreement (USMCA). This funding will be disbursed over six years, as direct payments and various investment programs, with the largest share going to the dairy sector.

The New Zealand Productivity Commission submitted a report to the Government of New Zealand recommending that a review should be done on regulation of genetic modification to ensure it is fit for purpose and supports domestic innovation. Other than that, there have been no recent significant official changes to the genetically engineered (GE) policies established by the New Zealand government.

The outlook for the 2022/23 apple season in New Zealand is much more optimistic with the opening of international borders following COVID-19 restrictions. While the last two apple harvests were severely impacted by the lack of labor, the return of overseas workers under the Recognized Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme is expected to help allow a recovery in production, with the forecast up 12 percent from the previous year’s estimated crop.

In July 2022, Canada published final regulations on supplemented foods. The new regulatory requirements are complex, and the food industry has until January 1, 2026 to become compliant. Stakeholders are strongly encouraged to consult the variety of resources and information made available by Health Canada to assist with the implementation of the supplemented foods regulatory framework.

FY2022 agricultural exports reach record levels.

In marketing year 2022/23, wheat production is forecast up more than 50 percent from the previous year on increased acreage and higher yields due to improved soil moisture. Wheat exports are forecast to increase year-over-year on larger domestic supplies. Crop 2022 will be the first sizable crop in four years to compete for rail services with other sectors throughout an entire marketing year. Non-durum and durum wheat are expected to be of high quality, resulting in lower feed-grade wheat supplies.

New Zealand milk production is forecasted to fall slightly in 2023. Although milk prices are at extremely high levels and expected to remain elevated, a number of issues are limiting the production response. This includes a slowly declining national herd, and also that on-farm inflation is expected to remain high as a result of the weak NZ dollar impacting imported input prices, as well as strong global fuel prices.