| The following Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) reports were released on Thursday, December 31, 2020. Argentina: FAIRS Country Report This report provides overall information on regulations and standards for importing U.S. food and beverage products to Argentina. Post recommends U.S. suppliers interested in the Argentine market contact our office or local importers to discuss the rules and regulations applicable to import requirements for particular products.
This report outlines The Bahamas' certification requirements and includes an Export Certificate Matrix as well as examples of select Export Certificates.
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) import approximately two-thirds of its overall food needs. The COVID19 pandemic significantly disrupted the country's traditional trade patterns in the spring and caused short-term delays in the supply chain. The market for processed foods is determined based upon price rather than quality, as consumers seek to extend their buying power. Some advantages for U.S. exporters include relatively low food import tariffs and low costs for introduction and promotion of new products while challenges consist of a complicated dual system of government authorities, low incomes, and poor infrastructure. Opportunities exist for U.S. genetics, beef, pulses, wine, seafood, dried fruits, and tree nuts. This report contains marketing tips, information on importing food, and best product prospects.
After exporting a record-high $1.1 billion in consumer-oriented agricultural products to the Caribbean in 2019, U.S. suppliers saw the COVID-19 pandemic take a toll on Caribbean demand for imported food and beverages in 2020. U.S. exports of consumer-oriented products to the region dropped 14 percent in 2020 (Jan-Oct) when compared to the same period in 2019. However, opportunities for U.S. suppliers should begin to improve as the Caribbean looks to continue to gradually re-open its doors to tourism and regain economic momentum in 2021.
There is no commercial production of Genetically Engineered (GE) crops in Chile, with the exception of seeds for re-export. Chile is home to world-wide companies that develop and propagate GE seeds and export the resulting GE seeds. If the Chilean government were to allow the commercial production of additional GE crops, Chile could be a viable producer of GE sugar beets, corn, and alfalfa. The Government of Chile (GOC) did not update its plant or animal biotechnology regulations this past year. However, this report contains updates to the Production and Trade Section (Chapter 1), as well as a new section on Microbial Biotechnology (Chapter 3).
This report lists the major registration requirements and export certificates required for food and agricultural exports to the People's Republic of China. The country's import documentation requirements are dynamic, with the Chinese government's efforts to improve the food safety regulatory framework. In 2020, China notified to the WTO two major pieces of food and agricultural import related regulations for comment: 1) the AQSIQ Administrative Measures for the Safety of Imported and Exported Foods (Decree 144) and 2) the AQSIQ Administrative Measures for Registration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food (Decree 145). Once finalized, these two measures will result in significant changes in the requirements for food and agriculture imports. Please monitor the USDA GAIN system, including the latest China Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards (FAIRS) Narrative Report, for updates to China's food and agricultural regulatory system. China released several significant food and agricultural import regulations and standards for public comment in 2020, including the draft Administrative Measures on Import and Export Food Safety, the Registration and Administration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food, the Measures on Supervision and Management of Food Labeling, and two key labeling standards. These draft measures and standards are likely to be finalized in 2021. Five years after its implementation, the Food Safety Law is slated for a revision, as is the 2006 Law on Farm Product Quality and Safety. This report presents the key regulations and standards applicable to food and agricultural imports, including changes to existing standards. Given the dynamic nature of China's food regulations, U.S. exporters should verify the full set of import requirements with their China-based representatives or customers prior to shipping.
This report summarizes the key technical and import requirements for food and agricultural products imposed by the Government of the Dominican Republic. Due do to the COVID-19 pandemic and a change in Government authorities during 2020, no major changes were implemented on technical and import requirements for food and agricultural products. During 2019, El Salvador continued strengthening its commercial ties with the United States as it imported about $567 million of agricultural products, which is 4 percent more than in 2018. Undoubtedly, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the upward trend reflecting a drop of about 10 percent in the January-October 2020 period. Consumer-oriented products with focus on health benefits are good sellers as Salvadorans have become concerned about their health as a result of the pandemic. Other best performing categories during 2019 were: processed foods, dairy, processed vegetables, fresh fruits, chocolate, condiments and sauces, snack foods and wine/beer.
The European Union's (EU) complex and lengthy policy framework for biotechnology creates a challenging environment for research and limits access to innovative tools for EU farmers. As such, the EU imports large amounts of genetically engineered (GE) feed and produces very few of its own GE crops. Public acceptance of GE crops is low, and in July 2018, the European Court of Justice issued its judgment that organisms created through innovative biotechnologies should be regulated as GE organisms in the EU. The new Commission's flagship Green Deal also aims at drastically reducing the use of plant protection products and incorporating sustainability criteria into the agricultural biotechnology approval process. This could further limit access to these tools for EU farmers. In addition, upon specific requests of some Member States, the Council of the EU asked the European Commission to submit a study on new genomic techniques and if necessary, an associated legislative proposal by April 2021. The economy relies on foreign exchange generated by international trade, remittances, and the tourism sector. The Government of Guatemala (GOG) welcomes foreign investment and generally places few legal or regulatory restrictions on foreign investors. Guatemala represents a growing market for U.S. companies and is a country with economic stability, a strategic location with ports on both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and a proximity to the United States. U.S. exports of agricultural products to Guatemala reached a record of $1.2 billion in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic might reverse the trend of import growth in 2020; however, economists expect that the Guatemalan economy will pick-up in 2021. Some of the most important exported agricultural products to Guatemala are yellow corn, wheat, soybean meal, and poultry, beef, and pork meat.
Agricultural biotechnology constitutes an opportunity to U.S. suppliers, as non-governmental and governmental organizations have been working to encourage its integration into the Haitian economy in recent years. Although it is a controversial issue among the Haitian community, Haiti depends heavily on imports from countries where the use of agricultural biotechnology is common. Currently, there is no policy against genetically engineered crops, animals, and microbial biotech-derived food. The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing nationwide lockdown has impacted local demand for imported food and agricultural products. The pandemic has shifted consumer preferences towards healthy/mindful eating habits through the incorporation of immunity boosting, protein-rich, natural, vegan, and organic food products. This consumption shift along with a sharp increase in online shopping presents new opportunities for U.S. exporters. India is a rapidly growing market for imported food products but it remains a difficult market to navigate with high tariffs, a challenging regulatory environment, and competition from foreign and domestic suppliers. In 2019, Jamaica imported agricultural food and products from the United States valued at US$496 million. Consumer-oriented products accounted for the greatest portion of these imports reaching US$209 million in 2019, a 11 percent increase compared to the previous year. With the implementation of free trade agreements between Jamaica and other countries, there is expected increased market competition from other countries. However, there are still U.S products with good sales potential such as: eggs and egg products, dairy, beef and beef products, condiments and sauces, fruits and vegetable juices, snack foods, processed vegetables, fresh fruit, tree nuts, wine and beer. In 2020, the United States and Morocco completed a health certificate for U.S. live cattle exports to Morocco. The top prospects for U.S. agricultural exports to Morocco include feed grains (corn, DDGS, soybeans and soybean meal), pulses, live animals, genetics, animal fats and some consumer-oriented products (bovine meat, poultry meat, dairy products, eggs & products, rice and tree nuts). Under the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA), a large number of tariffs for consumer-oriented products were phased out in 2020. As global food and agricultural trade continues to integrate, Nigeria has formulated structures, strategies, laws, and food control systems including regulatory authorities to enhance public health, food safety and international trade. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is playing a key role in promoting science-based food standards. The international accreditation of the agency's two major laboratories in recent years has reasonably boosted its capacity to enforce Nigeria's food safety regulations. However, the country's "Food Safety and Quality Bill" expected to elevate the country's food safety regulations and activities, is still awaiting legislative passage and assent by the President to become law despite the draft's approval by the country's Federal Executive Council in 2018.
This report highlights all major certificates and permits that the government of Nigeria (GON) require for exporting food and agricultural products from the United States to Nigeria. It also complements The FAIRS – Annual Country Report for Nigeria (2020). Post recommends that prospective exporters read both reports for a better understanding of Nigeria's food and agricultural standards and requirements for export certifications and permits.
Panama did not make any policy changes on regulating Genetically Engineered (GE) plants, seeds and animals, including for GE microbes, in the past year. Panama has delayed for over ten years the establishment of the implementing regulations of Law 48 of 2002, which created the National Commission of Biosafety for Genetically Modified Organisms. As such, the absence of clear procedures regarding the approval process and coordination among all of the competent government agencies in charge of authorizing the import, research, and commercialization of GE products and animals in Panama causes delays to the official approval of GE events.
Peru's Congress has approved a law to extend the ongoing ten year moratorium to fifteen years. Peru's moratorium on genetically engineered (GE) crops and zero tolerance for GE events is scheduled to expire in 2021. The Ministry of Environment tests conventional imported seed shipments upon arrival, raising concerns amongst seed traders. The detection of a GE event in seeds, including adventitious presence, results in steep fines. Peru imports GE crops such as soybeans, corn, and cotton for consumption and processing. The United States is a major supplier of these commodities, as are other South American countries.
Post's forecast for Philippine pork production in 2021 turns negative as ASF continues to discourage commercial operations from reinvesting in the sector, which in turn has led to spiking consumer pork prices. Meanwhile, Post's poultry production forecast for 2021 remains unchanged, while import demand, specifically for mechanically deboned meat, continues to replace raw pork materials in processed meats in order to accommodate restrictive local government policies on the entry and sale of pork-containing products. Poland is a European Union (EU) Member State and applies all EU regulations pertaining to imports of food and feed products. U.S. food and feed suppliers to Poland should verify with local importers and appropriate U.S. regulatory agencies regarding the most current local requirements prior to shipment.
Poland applies European Union (EU) regulatory requirements for all foods of animal- and plant-origin. Although the EU has harmonized export certificate requirements for most products, Poland maintains national-level oversight for products still not harmonized under the EU. Poland's competent authorities can be consulted on a case-by-case basis regarding requirements for non-EU harmonized products. The EU requires that all requisite products be accompanied by sanitary and/or phytosanitary certificates at the port of entry
For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.
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Monday, January 4, 2021
GAIN Reports from Thursday, December 31, 2020
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