GAIN Reports from Friday, March 12, 2021

The following Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) reports were released on Friday, March 12, 2021.    Burma: Burmese Government Temporarily Waives Import and Export Licenses for Select Ag Products   Following the February 1, 2021 coup by the Burmese military, agricultural trade has been crippled due to country-wide peaceful protests in opposition to the military's actions and the military's increasingly violent response. The Ministry of Commerce is waiving import and export license requirements for select agricultural commodities from March 8 - April 9, 2021. While a lack of drivers to move the more than 10,000 stuck containers at a major port remains the largest single barrier to trade, this may provide some relief for U.S. wheat and soybean (but not soybean meal) exports, which were valued at a combined $39 million in 2020. European Union: Public Consultation on the Revision of the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive The European Commission launched a public consultation in January on its upcoming revision of the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive (SUD). The rules encourage reducing pesticides through integrated pest management and alternatives to chemical pesticides. The SUD is also seen as a crucial tool to achieving the targets outlined in the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy. The public consultation is open until April 12, 2021. Malaysia: Malaysia Notified New Requirements for the Importation of Grains and Grain Products   On January 25, 2021, Malaysia notified new requirements for the importation of grains and grain products to the WTO. The new requirements will take effect on April 1, 2021 and require Malaysian importers to have a valid import license and the appropriate import permit for feed. Mexico: Mexico Front of Pack second phase implementation This report intends to inform U.S. processed foods and non-alcoholic beverage companies interested in the Mexican market about the additional stipulations in the NOM-051 Front of Pack Labeling regulation that will go into effect on April 1, 2021. These provisions include the elimination of brand characters, the usage of the word "imitación" to substitute products, requirements for endorsements seals, the usage of the terms "organic" and "biologic," among other information that is subject of compliance regarding the front of pack labeling. This report intends to provide a summary of the requirements for imported products to comply with standard NOM-051. Mexico: Poultry and Products Semi-annual Mexico's poultry production is expected to grow in 2021 despite a sluggish economic rebound and ongoing pandemic emergency measures hampering domestic demand. Chicken meat, as well as eggs and egg products, are expected to remain the most popular and affordable animal protein for consumers. In 2020, the poultry sector proved to be resilient in the face of pandemic-related challenges and coped with demand disruptions, such as the closing of the hotel, restaurant, and institutional (HRI) sector. Household cooking, baked foods, and comfort foods took advantage of new commercial avenues, such as e-commerce, to bolster demand for chicken meat, eggs, and egg products.   For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.     Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. This email was sent to ooseims.archieves@blogger.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service · 1400 Independence Avenue, SW · Washington, DC 20250