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IGTC Newsletter

The newest edition of the IGTC Newsletter is now available! This week’s newsletter includes an update on the Katy’s attendance at the IGC MCC meeting in London, a reminder of the September 30 deadline to nominate IGTC delegates for COP-MOP meetings in Cancun and an update on the IGTC’s IPPC ISPM for grain Working Group ahead of EWG meetings in Melbourne starting September 19. A copy of the newsletter can be found on the IGTC intranet at www.igtcglobal.org or by clicking here.

IGC MCC Meeting – September 8-10

Katy Lee, Acting Secretariat of the International Grain Trade Coalition (IGTC) traveled to London, UK to attend and present at the International Grain Council’s (IGC) Market Conditions Committee (MCC) meeting on September 9. Presenting on behalf of the IGTC as an official “observer,” Katy gave a briefing to government representatives and stakeholders under the agenda item "Current Developments in Policy and Trade Practice." During the briefing particular emphasis was placed on two priority upcoming meetings for the IGTC, including:

  1. IPPC Expert Working Group (EWG) on a new International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) on grain, 19-24 September, Melbourne.
  2. Conference of the Parties (COP) and meeting of the Parties (MOP) to the Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols, 4-17 December, Cancún, Mexico.

More information about the IGTC’s presentation at the MCC can be found on the IGTC intranet at www.igtcglobal.org. A trip report will soon be available for this MAP travel.

Cuba Licensing Procedures Public Comments

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is requesting public comments on the effectiveness of its licensing procedures as defined in the Export Administration Regulations for the export of agricultural commodities to Cuba. These comments will be included in BIS’s Congressionally mandated biennial report to Congress on the operation of its licensing system as laid out in the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000.

Comments on BIS’s licensing program for Cuba must be received by October 11, 2016. More information on the request for public comment can be found here. If you are interested in contributing to comments on this topic, please contact Gary or Ryan.

USDA Close to Submitting proposed biotech revisions

NAEGA has learned that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is close to submitting to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) its proposed revisions to regulations that govern the premarket regulation of biotech enhanced agricultural traits. The proposed regulatory revisions were developed by USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which is responsible for assessing whether biotech-enhanced traits pose a plant pest or noxious weed risk. The White House OMB is the required to clear all Federal Regulations published in the U.S Federal Registrar. In the regulations it is widely expected that the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will propose to streamline its premarket regulatory review and redefine the scope of its regulatory review regarding how it addresses new plant breeding innovations.

NAEGA will update members once the USDA submits its final regulations. For more information, please contact Gary or Ryan.

New CBP Trade Facilitation Webpage

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has launched a new Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement web page as a means to provide the trade community with information on implementation of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015. The website includes updates on forced labor, anti-dumping countervailing duties, the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) and other issues that require implementation under the act.

For more information, and to visit the website, please click here.