On July 28, 2021, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) published a notice soliciting comments on "Further Regulating the Labeling and Marking of Infant and Young Children Formula Milk Powder Products (Draft for Solicitation of Comments)". The deadline for comments, suggestions and feedback is August 28, 2021. The following report contains an unofficial translation of the notice.
On July 9th, 2021, Ecuador's Foreign Trade Committee issued Resolution No. 009 – 2021, lowering tariffs on 667 products, including 43 agricultural products. This resolution will come into effect on October 1st, 2021 and will be permanent.
The Legislative Council passed the Harmful Substances in Food (Amendment) Regulation 2021 on July 14, 2021. The goal of the legislation is to enhance the regulation of harmful substances such as industrially produced trans fats and mycotoxins in food. The provisions stipulating the new/revised maximum levels of harmful substances in food become effective on June 1, 2023 while those prohibiting partially hydrogenated oils (PHO) in food become effective on December 1, 2023. The Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) (Amendment) Regulation 2021 was also updated to provide for the marking and labelling requirement for prepackaged foods containing hydrogenated oil; it is effective the same date PHO ban is effective – December 1, 2023.
Animal protein supplies remain tight in Mexico. Post forecasts beef production to grow to 2.19 million metric tons (MMT) carcass weight equivalent (CWE) in 2022, up 3.3 percent from 2021. The main drivers are solid exports, chiefly to the United States, and a recovery in domestic demand. Post also forecasts pork production to reach a record at nearly 1.54 MMT CWE in 2022, up 3.0 percent from 2021, reflecting continued strong exports to Asia, a recovery in domestic demand, and lower feed costs. In May and June 2021, retail beef and pork prices reached all-time highs. The Bank of Mexico projects that economic growth will reach a modest three percent in 2022, following a six-percent recovery in 2021 and a record decline of more than eight percent during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Today, inflation concerns and overall uncertainty about livestock feed prices, foreign exchange rates, and a resurgence of coronavirus infections weigh on Mexico's livestock outlook.
On July 25, 2021, South Africa partially lifted the prohibition on the domestic transportation and sale of alcoholic beverages. This was met with widespread relief, but there still remains uncertainty on how the government could handle future alcohol bans. The impact of alcohol bans to the domestic liquor industry and associated supply chains has been substantial. Alcohol bans have also substantially affected South African liquor imports, including the United States. While U.S. liquor exports from January to May 2021 have grown by 27 percent year-over-year, to US$6 million, this may not be enough to rebound to the pre-COVID-19 level of nearly US$17 million in 2019. The most recent alcohol ban likely slowed U.S. exports once again, and the uncertainty created by the ad-hoc prohibitions by South Africa has caused some alcohol brands to struggle to regain lost market share.
Favorable weather conditions have allowed a second consecutive sizable winter grains crop in Spain. Post pegs Spain's MY2021/22 total grain output, including corn, at nearly 24 MMT. In MY2021/22, Spain's grain deficit is estimated at 13 MMT of grains, up from the almost 11 MMT of grains imported in the previous season when production registered a historical record but still below average import levels.
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