The following GAIN reports were released on December 27, 2021. _______ Angola is facing its most severe drought in the last 40 years, impacting the food security of 1.6 million people in southern Angola, including more than 110,000 children under the age of five who are facing acute malnutrition, according to the World Food Programme (WFP). In addition to the drought, rising food prices and a plague of locusts have made millions of people dependent on urgent humanitarian aid. Lower overseas demand, competition in key export markets, and COVID-19 related restrictions on imported raw materials in the processing sector reduced China's 2020 seafood import volume by 12.8 percent to 3.81 MMT. China remains the world's largest seafood producer with 2021 production expected to reach 66 million metric tons (MMT) on growth in cultured seafood. On December 15, 2021, the State Council Tariff Commission (SCTC) announced its 2022 annual tariff adjustment plan that sets tentative import and export tariff rates for select tariff lines. According to this year's plan, China will tentatively lower the tariff rates for multiple wood and fishery products. China also increased the tariff rates for certain pork and orange juice products to or below the established MFN rate. The tentative tariff rates are applicable to tariff lines from all exporting countries. This report contains an unofficial translation of the SCTC notice, the list of known agriculture-related tariff lines subject to tentative applied MFN tariff rate changes in 2022, a commodity list subject to TRQ administration, and additional information regarding scheduled RCEP tariff adjustments. The report contains FAS China's understanding of the overseas facility registration process as required by the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) in Decree 248. In addition, this report contains attachments of unofficial translations of the Competent Authority and Overseas Enterprise Operation Manuals for the GACC Single Window registration website. In addition, the report contains information from recent training sessions and background information on Decree 248 to facilitate self-registration for U.S. food and agribusiness operations affected by Decree 248. In July 2021, FAS China staff attended the 7th Food and Beverage Innovation Forum (FBIF). This report includes information and noteworthy trends as presented and discussed at the FBIF, not FAS China's official data or position. Presenters and attendees shared insights on food trends in China that may be worth considering when crafting trade promotion strategies for U.S. food products, beverages, and ingredients. Main takeaways from the show include the importance (and definition) of 'light food'; demand and trends in dairy and related beverages; and various hotel, restaurant, and institutional (HRI) trends. The conference revealed opportunities for non-GE soybeans, poultry, nuts and dried fruit, and beans and specialty crops. On December 20, 2021, the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) released Announcement No. 110 of 2021 titled Phytosanitary Requirements for Pine Wood from Countries with Pine Wood Nematode Presence. The announcement updates requirements for importing pinewoods, including guidelines for sampling and treatment prior to export, phytosanitary certificate requirements, port of entry quarantine requirements, and designated ports for receiving pinewood imports. The requirements go into effect on February 1, 2022. After this date, all U.S. pinewood logs and lumber will need to comply prior to being allowed entry into China. On December 13, 2021, the European Commission launched a public consultation period for the upcoming revision to the Food Information to Consumers Regulation. The Commission is seeking views on different proposed changes to front-of-pack nutrition labeling, nutrient profiling criteria to restrict claims, origin labeling, date marking, and alcoholic beverages labeling. Stakeholders have until March 7, 2022, to comment. On December 15, 2021, the European Commission published a Communication on Sustainable Carbon Cycles, which outlines action items for the EU to accelerate carbon removal from the atmosphere. In the Communication, the Commission announces that it will propose legislation on the accounting and certification of carbon removals before the end of 2022. The European Commission allocated €185.9 million euros ($210.6 million USD) in 2022 for the promotion of European Union agri-food products both globally and in Europe. Like in 2021, the focus is on promoting products and farming methods that support European Green Deal objectives, such as EU organic products, fruit and vegetables, sustainable agriculture, and animal welfare. The 2020 FAIRS report provides up to date information on the regulations and procedures for the importation of food and agricultural products to Ghana. A link to access the specific labeling requirements for baby foods has been provided. Effective Jan 02, 2020, all FSIS export certificates accompanying these products must be signed by a FSIS veterinarian, and the veterinary degree (DVM or equivalent) indicated after the signature. This report provides information on the certificates required for the importation of food and agricultural products into Ghana, plus further information on food product registration, labeling, import permits and other relevant information to assist U.S. exporters. New information includes direct hyperlinks for accessing some required export certificates This report complements the FAIRS Annual Country Report for Ghana. On November 19, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the government will withdraw the three agricultural laws enacted in September 2020. On November 29, 2021, Parliament approved a bill withdrawing the three laws. Meanwhile, protesting farmers, galvanized by their success, have made further demands including legalizing the minimum support price (MSP) market intervention, among other demands. On December 9, 2021, the Indian government gave written assurances to the protestors' additional demands and agreed to set up a committee to review MSP legalization. On December 1, 2021, the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs notified draft regulation G/TBT/N/IDN/139 to the WTO TBT Committee. The comment deadline on the measure regarding International Cooperation on Halal Product Assurance is January 29, 2022. Comments can be sent to Indonesia's TBT Enquiry Point at tbt.indonesia@gmail.com and tbt.indonesia@bsn.go.id. Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) proposed revisions to Japan's maximum residue levels for 7 agricultural chemicals (Sulfoxaflor, Pyraflufen-ethyl, Benthiavalicarb-isopropyl, Polyoxorim-zinc, Polyoxin complex, Spinosad, as well as Pyrantel and Morantel) for various agricultural commodities. Furthermore, MHLW proposes to designate a feed additive (Benzoic acid) as a "Substance having no potential to cause damage to human health", which will exempt it from maximum residue limit (MRL) establishment. Interested U.S. parties are encouraged to submit their comments to PlantDivision@usda.gov for plant products and to TFAA.FAS.AnimalDivision@usda.gov for animal products by January 12, 2022. Japan's National Tax Agency (NTA) published a list of 10 proposed geographical indications (GIs) for alcoholic beverages from the United Kingdom. NTA will accept public comments on the proposal through March 22, 2022. On December 10, 2021, the Government of Kenya announced it would grant exemptions to tariffs on non-genetically-modified (GM) feed ingredients in response to rising feed costs. Exemptions were granted to 18 Kenya millers for yellow maize, soy meal, soybeans, cottonseed cake, sunflower seed, white sorghum, and fish meal. According to local sources, the exemptions are unlikely to lower prices due to limited global supplies of non-GM feed ingredients. Despite COVID-19's negative impact on Mexico´s macroeconomy, U.S. agricultural and related products exports to Mexico totaled $18.9 billion in 2020. Mexico is still one of the largest and most consistent markets for U.S. agricultural products. With the geographical advantage of a long land border and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement which eliminated duties on agricultural and food products, Mexico is a natural market for new-to-export U.S. companies. Milk production in calendar year (CY) 2021 is estimated at 2.2 MMT, an increase of three percent compared to the previous year. Peruvian dairy farmers are undergoing a severe financial crisis as a result of high commodity and freight prices combined with unusual devaluation of the Peruvian Sol. Peru does not produce enough milk to satisfy domestic demand. Powdered milk imports into Peru are estimated at 66,000 MT for 2021. On December 7, 2021, South African Parliament failed to pass the proposed amendments to Section 25 of the Constitution which would have allowed for the expropriation of land without compensation. This decision has been met with mixed reactions from the agricultural sector, with the larger commercial agricultural associations (with majority white membership) and the banking sector expressing relief, while associations representing black farmers have generally expressed disappointment. Some opposition political parties have indicated that this matter will still be pursued, and there are possibilities that the debate on expropriating land without compensation may be revived when Parliament considers a different expropriation bill not aimed at land reform.
For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/. | 
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