Wednesday, May 12, 2021

GAIN Reports from Tuesday, May 11, 2021

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The following Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) reports were released on Tuesday, May 11, 2021.

 

Bahrain: Smaller Packaging Size Requirement for US Poultry Rescinded

On May 3, 2021, the Bahraini Animal Control & Health Directorate (ACHD) notified FAS/Riyadh that U.S. poultry products will be allowed to flow into the local market indefinitely on the same previously followed protocol. This is a welcome sign for U.S. poultry exporters since the Directorate informed Bahraini importers in September 2020 that they must import U.S. poultry in 3x5 kg bags and not the traditional 15kg bulk packages. The 15kg pack is the standard packing size used worldwide for U.S. chicken leg quarters and limiting poultry products to smaller packing sizes would have significantly limited U.S. exports. In 2020, Bahrain imported 62,326 metric tons (MT) of poultry, an increase of approximately 5.5 percent over imports in 2019. The United States was the third largest supplier of poultry meat to Bahrain with 5,028 MT ($3.9 million). FAS/Riyadh anticipates U.S. poultry exports will rebound for the rest of 2021 now that Bahrain rescinded its smaller packaging size requirement.

 

India: India Confirms Prunes Not Subject to the non-Genetically Modified cum Genetically-Modified-Free Status Certificate Requirement

FAS New Delhi (Post) secured confirmation from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India that prunes from plums (Prunus domestica) are a processed food product (dried fruit), and as such are not subject to the non-Genetically Modified (GM) cum GM-Free status certificate requirement. Industry's concerns for clarification necessitated post's outreach. U.S.-origin prune exports to India reached nearly $1 million in 2020.

 

Indonesia: If at First You Do Not Succeed - An Overview of Indonesia's Food Estate Project

In June 2020, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo announced the establishment of a national Food Estate project to increase agricultural production and provide food security for Indonesia's growing population. The project, which focuses on improving yields on existing farmland as well as developing new agricultural lands, faces an uphill challenge to deliver sustainable production gains following the failure of similar programs under previous administrations.

 

Japan: USJTA Treatment for Beef and Beef Products 2021

The U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (USJTA) has been in effect for 16 months, however the timing of Japan's fiscal year meant that the agreement entered "Year 3" of implementation on April 1, 2021. This report is one in a series of product briefs highlighting the tariff benefits for specific commodities and products from Year 3 (2021) to Year 5 (2023) of the agreement. Additional information is available at www.usdajapan.org/usjta/.

 

Japan: USJTA Treatment for Wheat and Wheat Products 2021

The U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (USJTA) has been in effect for 16 months, however the timing of Japan's fiscal year meant that the agreement entered "Year 3" of implementation on April 1, 2021. This report is one in a series of product briefs highlighting the tariff benefits for specific commodities and products from Year 3 (2021) to Year 5 (2023) of the agreement. Additional information is available at www.usdajapan.org/usjta/.

 

Mexico: Update to Mexico Organic Products Law 'LPO' Compliance - Proposed January 2022 Extension

In May 2021, Mexico posted a draft proposal to the National Commission of Regulatory Improvement (CONAMER) website to modify the "Measure that establishes the merchandise whose importation is subject to regulation by the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development" (the Measure). The modification aims to extend the deadline for imported organic products listed in the Measure to comply with Mexico's Organic Products Law (LPO) from June 2021 to January 2022. Stakeholders may comment on the proposal through the CONAMER website before final publication in the Federal Gazette (Diario Oficial).

 

Philippines: Shelf-Stable and Frozen Ready Meals Market Brief

Amidst government warnings to stay home, food service players moved their business off-premises and with the help of food delivery companies, made it easier for consumers to purchase meals. Retailers are also reporting brisk sales in ready meals, growing 12 percent in 2020 to $81 million. Industry contacts forecast sales of meals from the overall food service and retail channels will increase five percent in 2021 to $6.6 billion, as companies introduce higher-quality products and make improvements in e-commerce and delivery services. U.S. suppliers can grab a share of this market by introducing shelf-stable and frozen ready meals. With changing consumer habits, Post sees 5 to 8 percent annual growth over the next five years even after lockdown restrictions have eased and more people dine in restaurants.

 

Taiwan: Opportunities for US Coffee Percolate in Taiwan Brewing Market

Taiwan is the United States' eighth-largest export market for food and agricultural products, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. While Taiwan's tea is very much rooted in Chinese tradition, its coffee culture is expanding at a fast pace. Like the United States, coffee is readily available at outlets ranging from local convenience stores to global and regional chains (e.g., Starbucks), as well as higher end neighborhood cafes. The United States is the leader in the imported roasted coffee bean sector and is likely continuing to hold approximately 30 percent market share. This report presents an overview of the coffee industry and opportunities for U.S. exporters to Taiwan.

 

Vietnam: African Swine Fever Update

In 2020, the African Swine Fever (ASF) epidemic in Vietnam caused a loss of about 86,000 pigs, equivalent to 1.5 percent of the culled pigs in 2019. ASF outbreaks continue to recur but most of them are sporadic, small-scale, and quickly contained. Official statistics show that the total pig herd in Vietnam, as of December 2020, was 27.3 million head, equivalent to about 88.7 percent of the pre-ASF level. Although the recovery of Vietnam's swine industry is underway, it has not reached the pre-ASF level, as ongoing challenges with ASF remain. Vietnam's pork production is predicted to continue to recover in 2021, leading to lower demand for imports of pork and pork products than in 2020.

 

Vietnam: Vietnam Issues National Standard for Chilled Poultry Meat

This report provides an unofficial translation of Vietnam's National Standard for Chilled Meat - Part 3: Poultry Meat (TCVN 12429-3:2021) issued under the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology's Decision No. 209/QD-BKHCN dated February 3, 2021.

 

For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.

 


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