Overcoming Trade Barriers
The Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service has issued a final rule that, effective Nov. 17, amends the agricultural trade promotion program regulation to implement the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program, which provides assistance to eligible organizations that conduct market promotion activities (including those addressing existing or potential non-tariff barriers to trade) to promote U.S. agricultural commodities in certain foreign markets.
The FAS states that in the face of challenges such as ongoing conflicts, a changing climate, an increasing agricultural trade deficit, and increased competition in U.S. export markets, additional investments in market development are needed to keep U.S. agriculture ahead of the competition. The RAPP will continue work started under the Agricultural Trade Promotion Program to ensure that U.S. agricultural industries are able to sustain the relationships key to effective market development and enable exporters to break into new markets and increase market share in growth markets. RAPP participants may receive assistance for either generic or brand promotion activities as well as assistance to conduct activities to address existing or potential non–tariff barriers to trade.
Poultry from Canada
Effective Nov. 15 the Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has removed restrictions on imports of poultry, commercial birds, ratites, avian hatching eggs, unprocessed avian products and byproducts, and certain fresh poultry products originating from or transiting zones PCZ-192 in Saskatchewan and -193 and -194 in Alberta, Canada after the highly-pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in these zones was completely resolved.
Separately, APHIS is restricting the importation of poultry, commercial birds, ratites, avian hatching eggs, unprocessed avian products and byproducts, and certain fresh poultry products originating from or transiting zones PCZ-202 in (effective Oct. 30), PCZ-203 (Effective Oct. 31), and PCZ-204 and -205 (effective Nov. 1) in Saskatchewan based on a determination that HPAI exists in domestic birds in those zones.
Processed avian products and byproducts originating from or transiting any restricted area, imported as cargo, must be accompanied by an APHIS import permit and/or government certification confirming that the products were treated according to APHIS requirements. Further, importation as cargo of fresh, unprocessed shell/table eggs and other egg products, void of the shell (i.e., liquid eggs, dried egg whites), originating from or transiting any restricted zone is prohibited unless the products are consigned from the port of arrival directly to an APHIS-approved breaking and pasteurization facility. An import permit and/or certificate is not required for these shipments when consigned directly to an APHIS-approved establishment.
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