Colombia Signs FTC Decision re: Yellow Dent Corn

The Free Trade Commission of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement issued a legally binding decision recognizing the original intent of the Colombia TRQ to apply to the type of corn that the U.S. historically exported to Colombia – yellow dent corn – regardless of the HS classification. The decision was signed by Colombia’s Trade Minister on November 3 and, once signed by Ambassador Lighthizer, it will apply both retroactively and to future exports of U.S. yellow dent corn to Colombia.

Read a copy of the decision here.

U.S. APHIS Withdraws Biotech Regulations

On November 6 U.S. APHIS announced that it is withdrawing a proposed rule to revise the Agency’s biotechnology regulations in order to re-engage with stakeholders in determining the most effective and science-based approach for regulating biotechnology products.

“It’s critical that our regulatory requirements foster public confidence and empower American agriculture while also providing industry with an efficient and transparent review process that doesn’t restrict innovation,” said Secretary Sonny Perdue. “To ensure we effectively balance the two, we need to take a fresh look, explore policy alternatives, and continue the dialogue with all interested stakeholders, both domestic and international.”  

You can read the full press release here.

Myanmar Opens Market to US Wheat

According to a recent update from Myanmar’s National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO), wheat grain for food, feed and further processing will now have market access to Myanmar. NAEGA is working to learn more about the details of Myanmar opening to international food, feed and processing markets.

COCERAL on Glyphosate

On November 9, COCERAL issued a press release ahead of discussions calling on the European Commission and Member States to re-authorize Glyphosate for fifteen years following positive assessments on the safety of the substance from both the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). The current European Commission proposal is to re-authorize glyphosate for only five years.

You can read the press release here.