GAIN Reports from Thursday, March 5, 2020

The following Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) reports were released on Thursday, March 5, 2020   China: FAIRS Country Report China implemented or proposed several significant food and agricultural import regulations and standards in 2019. The Implementing Regulations of the 2015 Food Safety Law entered into force on December 1, 2019. Also this year, China issued two national food safety standards on maximum residue limits, one for pesticides (GB 2763-2019) and another for veterinary drugs (GB 13650-2019), both of which will enter into force during the first half of 2020. In addition, the Chinese government announced plans to revise the Administrative Measures for Registration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Foods (AQSIQ Decree 145) to expand the requirement to all food and beverage products. This report presents the key regulations and standards applicable to food and agricultural imports, and includes changes to existing standards. Given the dynamic nature of China's food regulations, U.S. exporters should verify the full set of import requirements with foreign customers prior to shipping. China: FAIRS Export Certificate Report This report lists the major registration requirements and export certificates required for food and agricultural exports to the People's Republic of China. The country's import documentation requirements are dynamic, with the Chinese government still in the process of transferring registration and certification functions to the new competent authorities created through the 2018 government reorganization. In 2019, China released two major pieces of food and agricultural import related regulation: 1) the Implementing Regulations of the 2015 Food Safety Law and 2) draft overseas facilities registration measures designed to replace AQSIQ Decree 145. For more information on the new regulations as well as a comprehensive look at China's import requirements, please see the latest China Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards (FAIRS) Narrative Report.  Costa Rica: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual Transgenic seed varieties have been grown in Costa Rica since 1992 with all seeds being exported to other countries. Costa Rica has implemented legislation to regulate the import and cultivation of genetically engineered crops but there is currently no requirement that foods containing genetically engineered components be labeled. The Costa Rican National Technical Biosafety Commission (NTBC) has started to meet regularly again, which is very important for the companies interested in planting genetically engineered products in the country.  EU-27: Livestock and Products Semi-annual In 2019, the EU swine sector took full advantage of the surge in demand from China as nearly two-thirds of China's imports were sourced from the EU. Good profit margins for the sector led to an expansion of the EU breeding herd in 2019, which is expected to lead to another pork export record in 2020. Spain is accounting for most of the export growth and is surpassing Germany as the biggest pork producer in the EU. Unlike swine, the total EU cattle herd is shrinking due to a lack of profit margins in the dairy and beef sector. Exceptions are in the dairy herd in Ireland and the beef herd in Spain, Italy, and Central Europe.  Japan: USJTA Treatment for Coarse Grains This is one in a series of reports providing concise overviews of how the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (USJTA), which entered into force on January 1, 2020, affects certain product groups. Once USJTA is fully implemented, nearly 90 percent of all U.S. food and agricultural products imported into Japan will be duty free or receive preferential tariff access. Please note that the information provided is not fully comprehensive and additional details may be found in the agreement text itself.  Additional information is available at www.usdajapan.org/usjta.  Japan: USJTA Treatment for Coffee Tea and Spices This is one in a series of reports providing concise overviews of how the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (USJTA), which entered into force on January 1, 2020, affects certain product groups. Once USJTA is fully implemented, nearly 90 percent of all U.S. food and agricultural products imported into Japan will be duty free or receive preferential tariff access. Please note that the information provided is not fully comprehensive and additional details may be found in the agreement text itself.  Additional information is available at www.usdajapan.org/usjta.  Nicaragua: FAIRS Export Certificate Report This report lists Nicaraguan import requirements for export certification and import permits for agrochemicals, veterinary products, feedstuffs and food products for human consumption. There were no significant changes on the export certificates in 2019. The last change reported in 2018 is that FDA stopped issuing the certificate of free sale for most of its food products, including conventional foods, food additives and substances that are in contact with infant food. FDA will instead be issuing the "Certificate to a Foreign Government" or the "Export Certificate" for most food products under its jurisdiction. Panama: Exporter Guide This report provides information to U.S. exporters of agricultural and related products on how to do business in Panama. Panama is an attractive market for exporting U.S. agricultural food products. Its culturally diverse population, geographical location, and love for American food and culture provide for increasing export opportunities for U.S. high value food and beverage products. In 2019, U.S. agricultural and related products exports to Panama reached an estimated $610.7 million. Panama has an ambitious public infrastructure plan and an expanding services sector that benefits from the country's emerging role as a regional hub for trade. Panama: Hotel Restaurant Institutional Panama is an attractive market for exporting U.S. agricultural food products. Its culturally diverse population, geographical location, and love for American food and culture provide for increasing export opportunities for U.S. high value food and beverage products. U.S. agricultural related products exports to Panama in the first half of 2019 reached $623.3 million. Panama has an ambitious public infrastructure plan and an expanding services sector that benefits from the country's emerging role as a regional hub for trade. The hotel, restaurant and institution sectors are seeking high quality food products, services, culinary technology, and "trendy" foods to meet customer demands. The proliferation of pop-up restaurants, food trucks, specialized gastronomy, and international cuisine, backed by restaurant delivery services and online delivery platforms are excellent examples of such advancements. South Korea: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual In April 2019, the Rural Development Administration (RDA) announced the creation of its Center to Commercialize New Breeding Technologies. This Center will lead Korea's development of innovative biotechnologies including genome editing for seven years beginning in 2020 with a budget of 76 billion Korean won (approximately $63 million USD). Korea is coordinating with relevant ministries to set policy on innovative biotechnologies. There has been no improvement on approval of genetically engineered (GE) products. After the detection of GE wheat in the United States in June 2019, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has been testing all incoming wheat and wheat flour from the United States to confirm absence of the unapproved GE wheat event. All tests were negative.  Tanzania: Biotechnology and Other New Production Technologies Annual Tanzania Government allows the importation of Genetic Engineered (GE) products from United States and other countries that meets national standards. However, there is no GE food in the Tanzanian market. The strict liability clause in the Bio-safety Regulations of 2009 continues to deter the commercialization of GE products for cultivation or import.  Tanzania: FAIRS Export Certificate Report This report compliments the FAIRS Country Annual Report and provides information on certificates required by the Government of Tanzania (GoT) to export food and agricultural products into Tanzania. GoT provides Tanzania National Business Portal as a single point for exporters and importers to electronically submit and receive approvals from all the regulatory agencies that are involved in international trade.   Turkey: Oilseeds and Products Annual Turkey's total production of oilseeds in Marketing Year (MY) 2020/21 is projected to decrease about five percent compared to MY 2019/20, totaling 3.04 million metric tons (MMT). Turkey continues to be import dependent for cooking oil and meal for the feed sector. Accordingly, in MY 2019/20 Turkey's sunflowerseed import forecast is 950,000 MT of oilseed sunflowerseed, 1.1 MMT of sunflowerseed meal, and 550,000 MT of sunflowerseed oil to meet domestic and re-export demands. Turkey's MY 2019/20 soybean imports are forecast to reach 2.8 MMT. 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