NAPPO Annual Meeting

On October 31-November 1 NAEGA Senior Advisor Arvid Hawk attended the North American Plant Protection Organization’s Annual Meeting in Montreal, Quebec. Arvid stepped in at the NAPPO meetings for NAEGA President and CEO Gary Martin, who canceled his trip at the last moment due to pressing developments from the Korea Customs Service regarding Country of Origin requirements.

During the NAPPO Annual meetings, APPAMEX, the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and its Mexican counterpart SENASICA met and held discussions concerning the proposed use of risk-based sampling to resolve the ongoing detection of small amounts of soil in some shipments of soybeans. Use of a risk based sampling method would not require a change in Mexican law and so could be implemented rapidly.  SENASICA authorities have agreed to run a pilot study, however no timeline was provided.  

During the meeting, the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) also has produced and delivered a method of testing for sand/soil in soybeans.  The method includes a tolerance of 5 peds not to exceed 0.1 % by weight.  NAEGA, in partnership with APHIS, is currently reviewing the FGIS proposal particularly as it related to weight.

For more information on the Mexican soil issue, please visit the Members Only section of the NAEGA website at www.NAEGA.org. Please contact Gary or Ryan if you have any questions.

Production Technology Committee Meeting

On Friday, November 10 the NAEGA Production Technology Committee met to discuss NAEGA’s future participation and interaction with the U.S. Biotech Crops Alliance (USBCA). The meeting was held prior to a meeting of the USBCA Board of Directors, which NAEGA President and CEO Gary Martin sits on, and following the USBCA’s Technology Meeting. During the Committee meeting, members discussed NAEGA’s relationship with the USBCA and its members, efforts to reach out to producer groups, and attempts to promote “trade accommodation” policies within the USBCA. Ultimately, the Committee chose to maintain NAEGA membership in the USBCA, but advocate for reduced membership fees considering the suspension of the USBCA’s Domestic Working Group (DWG).

A copy of the Committee minutes will be available soon. For more information, please contact Gary or Ryan.

Contracts Committee Meeting

On November 4, the NAEGA Contracts Committee held a virtual meeting to discuss proposed changes to the NAEGA No. 2 Model Contract. This working meeting was the first of a series of virtual meetings to continue the clause by clause review of the NAEGA contract, a process that started during the last meeting held in Portland, Oregon on October 19. During the meeting, the committee made progress on reconciling proposed changes suggested both by the committee and other NAEGA members.

A copy of the committee’s minutes will be available soon. For more information on the committee meeting or changes to the NAEGA No. 2 Contract, please contact Gary or Ryan.

Joint Statement on Coordinated Framework for Regulation of Biotechnology

On November 4, NAEGA along with the Corn Refiners Association (CRA), National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA), National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA), and North American Millers’ Association (NAMA) signed a joint statement to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy regarding the clarification of current roles and responsibilities described in the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology. The letter raises issues related to the marketability and current lack of international regulatory coherence regarding the premarket regulatory review of crops produced through modern biotechnology, and the negative impact those factors have in facilitating access to U.S. crops.

A copy of the letter is available here. For more information, please contact Gary or Ryan.

IGTC Newsletter

The newest edition of the IGTC Newsletter is now available! This week’s newsletter includes a recap of the IGTC actions in Cancun at the Cartegena Biosafety Protocol meetings and an update on the IPPC’s ePhyto project.  A copy of the newsletter can be found on the IGTC intranet at www.igtcglobal.org or by clicking here.