The following GAIN reports were released on November 17, 2021.
In 2020, Canadian food sales amounted to US$49 billion, a decrease of 34 percent from the previous year. This includes commercial and non-commercial national sales. The impact of COVID -19 caused the closure of non-essential businesses with a number of small to medium sized restaurants permanently closing their businesses. Restricted seating capacity, along with limitations on local and international travel drove sales down. The Canadian restaurant association; Restaurants Canada estimated a loss of up to US$20 billion in 2020.
On October 22, 2021, China notified a revised draft standard of the National Food Safety Standard - General Rules for Nutritional Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB28050-xxxx) to the World Trade Organization as G/SPS/N/CHN/1165 Addendum 1. China has not announced a proposed date of entry into force of the revised standard. Comments can be sent to China's SPS Enquiry Point at sps@customs.gov.cn by December 21, 2021. This report contains an unofficial translation of the draft standard.
On November 12, 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) published its "Decision on Amending Some Seed Industry Regulations (Draft for Comments)" on its website. The Decision facilitates the ability of developers of genetically engineered (GE) crop varieties to apply for seed variety registration as well as for a Production and Operation License. The deadline for comments is December 12, 2021. Over the last year, there have been several significant developments to China's seed and GE seed sector.
Effective November 12, 2021, ready-to-eat oysters harvested from Samish Bay in Washington State are once again eligible for export to Hong Kong following a ban imposed on July 2021. Joint efforts by ATO Hong Kong and the State of Washington's Department of Health successfully restored U.S. trade to Hong Kong valued at $3.5 million.
On October 20, 2021, Israel passed its proposed tax for soft drinks, concentrates, and powders (HS 20.09, 21.06, and 22.02). The new tax ordinance was published in Israel's official gazette and will enter into force on January 1, 2022. As a result, tax levels across the board on soft drinks will increase.
An investigation conducted by the Norwegian Veterinary Institute (NVI) has confirmed that the strain of avian influenza that was detected in a laying hen population in Klepp municipality in Rogaland (a county in Western Norway) on November 11, 2021, was a highly pathogenic variant, more specifically H5N1. This is the first time that highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in a commercial flock in Norway. This report summarizes the informational releases from the Norwegian national authorities on this detection.
Very high temperatures starting in May and low precipitation did not have a negative effect on wheat and barley production in Serbia, while corn yield will be reduced by at least 20 percent. In the second week of July most Serbian farmers had completed this year's wheat harvest. The wheat planting area for MY2021/22 is estimated at 600,000 Ha. Overall, production is estimated to be a record high of 3.4 MMT, which represents a 26 percent increase compared to MY2020/21. With domestic consumption of nearly 1.8 MMT, Serbia is estimated to have 1.7 MMT of wheat available for export in MY2021/22. Due to the summer drought corn production is projected to be around 6 MMT, 2 MMT lower than last year. However, overall production will meet domestic demand and allow for exports of 1.6 MMT of corn.
Post forecasts MY2021/22 rice production to increase to 21 million metric tons despite flooding. Posts expects Thai rice exports to increase to 5.8 million metric tons in 2021. Posts forecasts MY2021/22 corn production to decline 4 percent from MY2020/21, as corn growers shift to more profitable crops due to high production costs for corn. Posts also forecasts wheat import demand in MY2021/22 to decline to 3.1 million metric tons, down 6 percent from MY2020/21 due to the prolonged outbreak of COVID-19.
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