The Food Safety and Inspection Service has announced that the Codex Committee on Food Labeling will be meeting on April 18, 2012 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. in Washington, D.C. For those who wish to participate via teleconference, the call-in number is 1-888-858-2144 and the participant code is 6208658.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture states that Acting Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse will lead nearly 40 American businesses on a USDA trade mission to China during March 23-28, 2012. U.S. agricultural exports to China have grown more than 80 percent in the past three years. The USDA trade mission aims to help American businesses strike new deals, strengthen business ties, expand their markets, and support jobs for Americans, and is the largest USDA trade mission to date.
On March 21, 2012, the Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:
The Food Safety and Inspection Service has recently revised export requirements and plant lists for the following countries:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has withdrawn its March 8, 2012 proposed rule that would have added reporting for pork (fresh, chilled, and frozen box/primal cuts) and distillers dried grain (DDG) to the Export Reporting Requirements. USDA learned after publication that clearance from the Office of Management and Budget had not yet been obtained, so the proposed rule needs to be withdrawn until such clearance is conveyed.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails on March 20-21, 2012 announcing a number of changes to various Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) electronic manuals. While some of the changes are minor, other changes may affect the admissibility of the plant products, including fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
On March 20, 2012, the Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued emails announcing a number of changes to various Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) electronic manuals on March 16, 2012. While some of the changes are minor, other changes may affect the admissibility of the plant products, including fruits, vegetables, and flowers.