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FDA Issues
Nationwide Alert to Consumers About Spokane Produce Brand Romaine
Lettuce Due to Possible Health Risk
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning
consumers not to consume Spokane Produce brand romaine lettuce because
this product has been associated with an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7
in a cheerleading camp in Washington state in mid July. (July
29, 2002)
USDA
Proposes to Allow Conditional Importation of Spanish Clementines
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service proposed today to amend its regulations to
allow the importation of clementines from Spain to resume under
certain conditions. (July 12, 2002)
USDA
Revises Regulations for Moving Certain Fruits from Hawaii
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service has amended the Hawaiian fruits and
vegetables regulations to provide for alternative treatments for
rambutan, longan and litchi moving interstate from Hawaii. (June
14, 2002)
USDA
Announces Availability of Report on Systems Approach for Mitigating
Plant Pest Risk
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the availability of a
report on the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's use of
systems approaches for reducing plant pest risk. (June 4, 2002)
Australian
Markets Open to U.S. Grape Growers
Australia
has agreed to allow the import of California table grapes into their
market providing the grapes undergo a pre-clearance process in the
United States (February 20, 2002).
Sulfuryl
Fluoride; Temporary Pesticide Tolerances
This regulation establishes temporary tolerances for
residues of sulfuryl fluoride and inorganic fluoride in or on walnuts
and raisins. (February 7, 2002)
Hazelnuts
Grown in Oregon and Washington; Establishment of Reporting
Requirements for Imported Hazelnuts
This rule establishes reporting requirements for
hazelnuts imported by handlers of hazelnuts grown in Oregon and
Washington. It requires handlers to report the receipt and disposition
of hazelnuts grown outside of the United States. (February 6,
2002)
ITC Seeks
Input for a Fact Finding Study on the Economic Impact of Establishing
a Free Trade Agreement Between the United States and Taiwan
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is
seeking input from industry officials, trade associations, and others
for a fact finding investigation on the economic impact on the U.S.
economy of establishing a free trade agreement between the United
States and Taiwan. (February 6, 2002)
A
Summary of the Requirements and Procedures to Export Food and
Beverage
One of the primary constraints to exporting is the limited
knowledge of the foreign market's regulations and import
procedures. The objective of this report is to better inform U.S.
exporters about the border crossing process as it applies to
products exported to Mexico by truck. It is primarily intended
for those exporters new to the Mexican market. (January 16, 2002)
Turkey's
2002 Tariff Schedule
Turkey's 2002 Import Tariff Schedule was published on December
31, 2001 and went into force on January 1, 2002. Tariffs for most
bulk commodities were unchanged from previous rates. Duties for
some grains and sunflower and sunflower oil were reduced
significantly. Contrary to the trend, duties for bananas and
margarine were increased. Grain duties, are expected to be raised
again at the time of harvest. This report updates tariffs for key
products. (January 14, 2002)
Secretary
Veneman Releases Report on Food and Agricultural Policy for the
New Century
The report recommends that policy makers
take stock to examine past policies and programs and, where
necessary, define anew goals and principles that can best
guidethe future growth and development of the farm, food and
agriculture industry in the new century. (September 19, 2001)
USDA
Amends Oriental Fruit Fly Quarantine
The USDA amended its Oriental fruit fly regulations by
quarantining a portion of San Bernardino County, Calif., due to
the detection of Oriental fruit flies in the area. (September 6, 2001)
Statement by Secretary of Agriculture Regarding Agreement With Mexico Over U.S. Stone Fruit Exports (September 5, 2001)
U.S.
and Mexico to Share Vital Food Safety Information
Leading officials from the U.S. and Mexican governments today
signed a cooperative arrangement that will improve the safety of
the food supplies in both nations. (September 4, 2001)
Survey
of Domestic Fresh Produce: Interim Results
In May 2000, FDA initiated a 1000 sample survey focused
on high-volume domestic produce that is generally consumed raw
including cantaloupe, celery, cilantro, green onions, loose-leaf
lettuce, parsley, strawberries, and tomatoes. (July 31, 2001)
USDA
Announces Public Hearings on Mexican Hass Avocado Import Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service is hosting four public hearings to address the
proposed rule on the Mexican Hass avocado import program that was
published in the Federal Register on July 13. (July 27, 2001)
USDA
Announces Public Hearings on International Standards Concerning
Plant Pest Risks
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service is holding a public meeting to solicit
comments on the development of an international standard
concerning the plant pest risks associated with living modified
organisms such as herbicide tolerant crops. (July 26, 2001)
U.S.
Delegate to CCFH's Initial Information Letter
The U.S. Delegate to CCFH has prepared an initial information
letter on the 34th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene
(CCFH) for those interested in attending the Session as part of
the U.S. delegation. CCFH will be held in Bangkok, Thailand on
October 8-13, 2001. The letter contains information about the
meeting location, and tentative dates for two public meetings to
be held prior to the Session.
U.S.
Government Comments:
On Agenda Item 5(b) Draft Documents Coming Before the CCFL
Small Working Group on the Labeling of Foods Derived From
Biotechnology.
Australia's
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry Propose
Changes to the Biosecurity Import Risk Analysis Process
This memorandum requests stakeholders interested in
providing comments on the import risk analysis (IRA) process to
do so as soon as possible, and to advise of some proposed changes
to the IRA process arising from the recent meeting of Agriculture
and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand
(ARMCANZ). Close May 11, 2001
FDA
Announces Report on Safety of Imported Foods:
FDA Talk Papers are prepared by the Press OFfice to
guide FDA personnel in responding with consistency and accuracy
to questions from the public on subjects of current interest.
FDA
Publishes Rule to Increase Safety of Fruit and Vegetable Juices:
The Food and Drug Administration published a final rule designed
to improve the safety of fruit and vegetable juice and juice
products. Under the rule, juice processors must use Hazard
Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles for juice
processing. Implementation of a HACCP system will increase the
protection of consumers from illness-causing microbes and other
hazards in juices.
Upcoming
Codex Meetings
Committee of Pesticide Residue (CCPR) June 7, 2001 in Beltsville,
MD.
Recent U.S. Delegation Reports of Codex Committee Meetings
U.S.
Government Comments -
on Agenda Item 5(b) Draft Documents Coming Before the CCFL Small
Working Group on the Labeling of Foods Derived From
Biotechnology.
Comments requested comments to assist the delegate in preparing the U.S. response to Circular Letter CL 2000/37-FH. Included among the items addressed in the CL are the Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for the Primary Production and Packing of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables; Food Safety Objectives, in Section 5.2.1.1 of the Proposed Draft Principles and Guidelines for the Conduct of Microbiological Risk Management; Proposed Draft Guidelines for the Control of Listeria monocytogenes in Foods, and Guidelines on the Application of HACCP in Small and/or Less Developed Businesses.
FDA
Survey of Imported Fresh Produce:
FY 1999 Field Assignment
Comments
requested on Biotechnology:
The Codex Biotechnology Task Force requests comments
on the Proposed Draft Principles for the Risk Analysis of
Foods Derived from Modern Biotechnology and Proposed
Draft Guidelines for the Conduct of Safety Assessment of Foods
Derived from Plants Obtained through Modern Biotechnology.
Comments requested comments to assist the delegate in preparing the U.S. response to Circular Letter CL 2000/37-FH. Included among the items addressed in the CL are the Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for the Primary Production and Packing of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables; Food Safety Objectives, in Section 5.2.1.1 of the Proposed Draft Principles and Guidelines for the Conduct of Microbiological Risk Management; Proposed Draft Guidelines for the Control of Listeria monocytogenes in Foods, and Guidelines on the Application of HACCP in Small and/or Less Developed Businesses.
Technical Bilateral Consultations:
Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures--April 2001; The
ICPM, governing body of the International Plant Protection
Convention, hold its third annual meeting. For more information
contact the APHIS Trade Support Team, tel (202) 720-7677.
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