| The following Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) reports were released on Tuesday, January 12, 2021. Canada: Lot Code Packaging Requirement Enforcement Begins January 15 On January 15, 2021 enforcement of lot code requirements for fresh fruit and vegetables will begin, following a one-year extension provided to industry to use up existing packaging. Under Canada's Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, most prepackaged product must have a lot code or unique identifier on the label.
Czech Republic: FAIRS Country Report This report provides information on the laws and regulations for food, import rules for food, and contact information in the Czech Republic. It is recommended to read the EU-28 Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards, because the Czech Republic, a member of the European Union, follows the EU directives and regulations. The following sections include updates: I.,V.,VII, and Appendix I. Please note notification requirements for importers of certain foodstuffs of plant origin in Section VI.
As a member of the European Union (EU), the Czech Republic implements EU regulations regarding required export certifications. For information on EU export certifications, please see the Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards – Certification Report prepared by the United States Mission to the EU in Brussels available at https://gain.fas.usda.gov/#/search.
The first full year of the newly negotiated U.S. specific High Quality Beef (HQB) quota with the European Union ended with U.S. beef exports reaching 12,806 MT. With a total of 18,500 MT reserved for U.S. beef for 2020, this leaves 5,694 MT of quota unused in 2020. This is the result of the high focus of U.S. beef sales to the European restaurant sector, which was mostly shut down in both the spring first wave and the autumn second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because the HQB quota year stretches from July 1 through June 30, 2,470.5 MT of the unused quota will be carried over to the next quarter of the U.S. specific quota. Under the new Agreement, the U.S. specific HQB quota for 2021 increased to 23,000 MT.
This quarterly report covers October through December 2020 and provides details on the status of the EU Green Deal objectives and strategies including the Farm to Fork Strategy (F2F), Biodiversity Strategy, the Climate Target Plan, the EU Methane Strategy, and the Circular Economy Action Plan.
Mexico has not approved any biotechnology food or feed products since May 2018 and there is no official indication when approvals will resume. In 2019, Mexico stopped approvals of glyphosate imports and rejected all permit applications for cultivation of genetically engineered (GE) cotton, citing the precautionary principle. Cotton is the only GE crop planted in Mexico. In 2020, the denial of cultivation permits, together with the lack of GE seeds, low glyphosate stocks, and reduced global demand for textiles and clothing, resulted in an estimated 36 percent annual decrease in the area of GE cotton planted in Mexico. Mexico is one of the world's largest importers of GE corn and soy.
This report lists major export certificates required by the Taiwan government to export food and agricultural products to Taiwan. For more information on import requirements, see the Taiwan Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Report.
At 2300 local time on December 31, 2020, the United Kingdom (UK) completed its departure from the European Union (EU). The two sides successfully negotiated and agreed that there are no tariffs or tariff free quotas on each other's goods. However, England, Wales, and Scotland's departure from the EU's customs union and single market introduces some changes that could affect business operations, such as Rules of Origin, that will affect the movement of some third country goods.
The United Kingdom has strong social and cultural ties to the United States, demonstrated by the similarities in consumer trends in the retail and foodservice markets. The UK presents strong market opportunities for many U.S. consumer-orientated products, including specialty food products, "healthy" food items, wine, sauces, fruit, nuts, and juices. "Health" and convenience foods are the main driving forces in the UK value-added food and beverage market. Consumers in this country are looking for variety in high quality food products, especially those perceived to have health benefits. Over the past 10 months, the UK grocery and foodservice markets have changed dramatically and possibly forever. Grocery retailers have benefited while the foodservice sector has been decimated. Meanwhile, online grocery shopping has gained its biggest market share ever.
The United Kingdom (UK) left the European Union (EU) on January 31, 2020. The UK will continue to accept product health certificates in the existing EU formats from the relevant U.S. authorities until further notice. However, as the situation is subject to change throughout 2021, U.S. exporters are strongly advised to request that their UK importers check the latest information and import requirements from UK authorities before shipping product and completing export health certificate applications.
The United Kingdom (UK) departed the European Union (EU) on January 31, 2020. As a starting point, the UK is basing its food law and import requirements on EU legislation, including the format of animal and plant export health certificates. A range of transition arrangements for trading have been announced for the first six months of 2021, and further updates are expected. We strongly advise U.S. exporters to ensure that their freight forwarders, UK importers, and customs handling agents are keeping abreast of the latest import requirements and are asking local authorities for clarification, if required. There may be different procedures for product entering England, Wales, or Scotland, compared to Northern Ireland (since it is staying in the EU customs union). All sections of this report were updated.
For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.
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Wednesday, January 13, 2021
GAIN Reports from Tuesday, January 12, 2021
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