GAIN Reports from Wednesday, February 26, 2020

The following Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) reports were released on Wednesday, February 26, 2020   Bulgaria: Organic Market Annual Report Consumer demand in Bulgaria for organic foods and beverages has grown in recent years due to economic stability, improved purchasing power, and growing popularity for products perceived as healthful. In 2018, organic food and beverage sales reached a record €30 million, with further sales growth expected in 2020 and 2021. Although demand growth for organic consumer-ready products will likely continue, Bulgarian organic farms and area planted in 2018 declined by 4 percent and about 6 percent, respectively. At the end of 2018, organic area (fully converted and under the conversion process) accounted for 2.56 percent of Bulgaria's total agricultural area.  China: China Notifies Draft Maximum Residue Limits on Pesticides in Foods On January 21, 2020, China notified 642 maximum residue limits (MRLs) on 65 pesticides in food to the World Trade Organization SPS Committee as G/SPS/N/CHN/1149. The draft MRLs cover a broad scope of food products, including horticultural products, oilseeds, grains, poultry meat and products, and eggs. The deadline for comments is March 21, 2020. China has not announced a proposed date of entry into force for the MRLs. Comments can be submitted to China's SPS Enquiry Point at sps@aqsiq.gov.cn. This report contains an unofficial translation of the draft MRLs.  France: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual France has no commercial production or field trials of genetically engineered (GE) crops. Some fundamental research is being conducted in labs. The French livestock industry is dependent upon imported GE products for feed. Most scientists and farmers in France are supportive of the technology but consumer attitudes towards GE products are primarily negative. The French seed sector is calling for the European Commission to review European Union (EU) regulations in view of recent scientific advances on innovative biotechnologies, but the French government position is unclear because of competing voices within the administration. Animal biotechnology is primarily used in medical research.   Ghana: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual The application for commercial release of Ghana's first genetically engineered (GE) product - Bt cowpea is now ready to be submitted to the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) for approval and a regulatory trial for Nitrogen-Use Efficient (NUE) rice is also underway.  Italy: Italian Industrial Hemp Overview 2020 Hemp cultivation in Italy is legal since January 2017 when the Italian law No. 242/2016 promoting hemp cultivation and its industrial uses entered into force, leading to a sector revival, with more than 800 farms cultivating 4,000 hectares (ha) as an alternative to durum wheat. Approximately 80 percent of the Italian hemp production is destined to the food industry. The remaining 20 percent goes to green building, cosmetics, and nutraceutical sectors. On January 15, 2020, the Italian Ministry of Health published a decree on the Official Gazette setting the maximum level of THC content allowed in hemp food at 2 milligrams/kilogram for hempseeds, hempseed flour, and supplements containing ingredients derived from hemp; and 5 milligrams/kilogram for hempseed oil.  Mexico: Poultry and Products Semi-annual Mexico's chicken meat production continues growing at an estimated 3 percent pace, reflecting a positive decade-long trend. Maintaining a steady zoo-sanitary status allows chicken producers to increase production, invest in newer technologies, and improve biosecurity measures. The industry's genetic pool continues to rely on mostly U.S. imports. Domestic producers have begun diversifying production chains into different facilities in different states to prevent disease outbreaks that could devastate flocks. Chicken meat and egg consumption is increasing more than expected, due largely in part to their affordability in an increasingly price-sensitive market. They also enjoy a growing reputation with Mexican consumers as healthier animal proteins compared to beef or pork. The United States remains the main supplier of chicken meat for Mexico. In 2020, U.S. market share could increase if Mexico does not renew the third-country tariff-rate quota that allowed Brazil to increase its market share since 2014. Mozambique: FAIRS Annual Country Report All the sections of this Report have been updated based on recent regulation amendments, updated website links and to comply with the updated FAS reporting instructions. The report includes an assessment of laws and requirements for food and agricultural products imported into Mozambique.   Mozambique: FAIRS Export Certificate Report All the sections of the report have been updated based on website links and contacts, as well as to comply with the updated reporting instructions. The report lists major certificates and permits required to export food and agricultural products from the United States to Mozambique. It is recommended that this report be read with the FAIRS – Narrative Report, for a comprehensive understanding of the Mozambican regulations, standards and import requirements.  Serbia: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual In 2009, Serbia adopted the current Law on Genetically Engineered Organisms (GEOs), which strictly prohibits the importation, production, or commercial growing of genetically engineered crops. After ten years, Serbia still has not implemented changes to this Law on GEOs that conforms to European Union (EU) regulations or the World Trade Organization (WTO) Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement. In order to become a member of WTO Serbia needs to amend the current law. European Commission is also requiring from Serbia to amend the current law order to fulfill requirements for EU membership. Serbia prepared an amended Law on GEOs in May 2018, but this law was never submitted into the national approval process. There are no livestock clones or other GE animals (including fish, birds, insects, mammals) or GE genetics being used in commercial production in Serbia.  Thailand: The Impact of Drought on Agriculture in 2020 Analysts predict that the current severe drought in Thailand will cause losses in agricultural production estimated at approximately 26 billion Thai Baht (U.S. $840 million), mainly due to reduced MY2019/20 off-season rice production. The drought is also expected to affect off-season field crops, fruit trees, and freshwater fish farming production but to a much lesser degree than for rice. For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.   Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. This email was sent to stevenmagallanes520.nims@blogger.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service · 1400 Independence Avenue, SW · Washington, DC 20250