The Food Safety and Inspection Service reports that the Codex Committee on Nutrition & Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNSFDU) released a report on the review of existing daily vitamin and mineral intake reference values, requested by the 33rd CCNFSDU session (Germany, November 2011), available here. FSIS also reports that the detailed monographs on the food additives and contaminants evaluated at the 74th meeting of the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECSA) are now available here.

From March 29 to April 3, 2012, the Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:

The Agricultural Marketing Service issued a final rule amending the Mango Promotion, Research, and Information Order to increase the assessment rate on first handlers and importers of mangos from one half cent per pound to three quarters of a cent per pound. The National Mango Board recommended the action to ensure that its research and promotion programs continue to be adequately funded.

The Agriculture Department should move quickly to increase the tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) for raw and refine sugar in addition to the reallocation of existing TRQs, the Sweetener Users Association (SUA) said in a letter to the USDA. The letter follows a recent similar request from the SUA to the USDA. New World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates projections highlight the needs for a major TRQ increase. According to the letter, ending stocks are now projected at just 6.8% of total use, well under half of a normal level even under the most conservative assumptions.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service reports that the Regional Committee on Europe is requesting comments by July 20, 2012, on the proposed regional standard for the fresh fungus chanterelle. Details follow:

From March 26 to March 28, 2012, the Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:

The Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is requesting comments by June 11, 2012, on its proposed rule that would revise the U.S. Standards for Wheat under the U.S. Grain Standards Act (USGSA) to (i) change the definition of Contrasting classes (CCL) in Hard White wheat and (ii) change the grade limits for shrunken and broken kernels (SHBN).

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails April 11, 2012, announcing changes to some Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) electronic manuals. While some changes are minor, other changes may affect the admissibility of the plant products, including fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

The Foreign Agriculture Service released the following Production, Markets and Trade Reports on April 10, 2012:

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails April 9, 2012, announcing changes to some Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) electronic manuals. While some changes are minor, other changes may affect the admissibility of the plant products, including fruits, vegetables, and flowers.