The Food Safety and Inspection Service announced that the U.S. is leading an electronic working group on the revision of the Codex of Practice for Spices and Dried Aromatic Plants (CAC/RPC 42-1995). Parties interested in participating should forward contact information to Jenny Scott, Senior Adviser, Office of Food Safety, Food and Drug Administration (Jenny.Scott@fda.hhs.gov) and to Jane Van Doren, Interdisciplinary Scientist, Food and Drug Administration (jane.vandoren@fda.hhs.gov) by June 29, 2012.
The Agricultural Marketing Service said it is accepting nominations by July 20 for the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. The Secretary of Agriculture will appoint 12 individuals from those nominated to succeed members whose terms expire Oct. 31, 2012. The 12 new members will serve terms ending Oct. 31, 2015, AMS said. One member each will be appointed for the Regions 1 (Alaska, Oregon and Washington); 4 (Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas); 5 (Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota); 7 (Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska); 8 (Idaho); 9 (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia); 11 (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania); and 12 (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont). Two members will be appointed for each of Regions 2 (California and Hawaii) and 6 (Wisconsin).
The Department of Agriculture is requesting nominations to fill an upcoming vacancy on the National Organic Standards Board for an environmentalist. The Secretary of Agriculture will appoint a person to the position to serve a 5-year term of office that will begin Jan. 24, 2013, and run until Jan. 24, 2018, USDA said. Written nominations, with cover letters and resumes, must be postmarked by July 30.
In testimony before the Senate Finance Committee on June 21, Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack expressed his strong support for ending the application of the Johnson-Vanik Amendment and authorizing permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) for Russia. “By not granting Russia PNTR,” said Vilsack, “U.S. farmers, ranchers, and producers will face an uneven playing field. Their competitors in the European Union, Brazil, Argentina, and World Trade Organization member countries around the globe will benefit from Russia’s guaranteed tariff treatment and obligation to apply science-based sanitary and phytosanitary standards.”
On June 19 the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:
The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) will meet in Rome, Italy, July 2-7, said the Food Safety and Inspection Service. The core of the agenda is consideration of proposed amendments to the Procedural Manual, the adoption of 23 new or revised standards (or groups of standards) proposed by 12 committees (along with the revocation of existing standards that are being superseded by any newly adopted standards), and the consideration of proposals for new work or the discontinuation of work proposed by committees, said FSIS. Agendas and documents that will be under consideration for both committees are available here.
On June 18 the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails June 18 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 Food Safety and Inspection Service said the Codex Executive Committee (CCEXEC) will meet in Rome, Italy, June 26-29, to conduct the critical review of proposed standards and related texts to be submitted to the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Also on the agenda is continued implementation of the current Strategic Plan and development of a new Strategic Plan for 2014-2019, FSIS said. The U.S. is a member of this Committee.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a notice summarizing and asking for comments on the sanitary and phytosanitary standard (SPS) setting activities on the Codex Alimentarius Commission from June 1, 2011, to May 31, 2012, and June 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013. The notice also provides a list of other standard setting activities of Codex, including commodity standards, guidelines, codes of practice, and revised texts.