The Sweetener Users Association (SUA) urged the Agriculture Department to increase the tariff rate quota (TRQ) for sugar soon, noting that the first day the USDA can make such changes was April 1. The March 28, 2012, letter from SUA to Michael Scuse, acting under secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services at the USDA, said the U.S. market needs additional supplies of sugar and a TRQ increase is the only way to provide supplies at reasonable prices. The USDA must consider a disappointing season of Mexican production and imports as well as strong demand for sugar in the U.S., it said. While helpful and appropriate, a TRQ reallocation alone would be insufficient to deal with the supply problems and to mini maze shortfalls the USDA shouldn't lowball its TRQ increase, the SUA said. One market analyst said additional imports of 728,000-961,000 short tons, raw value, will be necessary, said the SUA.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued an email March 29, 2012, announcing changes to a Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) electronic manual. 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 reports that a Codex physical working group (pWG) will be meeting to discuss the Proposed Draft Regional Standard for Ayran (a cold yogurt-based beverage).

The Food Safety and Inspection Service reports that a Codex electronic working group (eWG) will meet to discuss animal feed.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails March 28, 2012, announcing changes to various 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 reports that the 44th Session of Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) concluded March 16 in Hangzhou, China, and despite the efforts of an electronic Working Group (eWG), once again, the CCFA failed to resolve the issue of Note 161 to the General Standard of Food Additives (GSFA). The use of this Note has become a critical issue because many countries view the inclusion of national legislation in Codex standards as a trade barrier and contrary to the spirit of Codex. The CCFA also discussed work relating to other revisions of the GSFA.

The U.S. Trade Representative is seeking public comments on talks that the U.S. has requested with the Indian government on prohibitions that India has imposed on the import of various agricultural products from the U.S., purportedly because of concerns related to Avian Influenza.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails on March 22-26, 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.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert for ground beef patties imported from Canada because they may be contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7 and may be associated with an illness in that country. The affected products were produced by a New Food Classics plant in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and imported by Sysco Food Services to a distribution center in Blaine, WA, for use by food service institutions.

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.