Indonesia requirement for heat treatment of Wheat re: Tilletia tritici, laevis, indica in the wheat imports

We have been consulting with Ukraine and Russian colleagues regarding reported new Indonesian requirement for heat treating wheat before export. Reports are that Indonesian authorities are, effective January 1, 2019 requiring that wheat from both origins needs to be subjected to heat of 70 – 80°C for 10 to 20 minutes prior to export. The Indonesian phytosanitary authority explains the heat treatment is required to control found fungis in the form of Tilletia tritici, laevis, indica in the wheat. Given that Tilletia spores are found in crops throughout the world and heat treatment before export is an impractical, inappropriate and unnecessary trade distortive measure, we are supporting efforts to eliminate the new requirement and proposing alternative risk management steps. Please contact us if you would like more information or have advice for NAEGA action.

Thailand DDGs Fumigation Requirements

NAEGA has been notified by USDA APHIS of new import requirements for U.S. distillers dried grains entering Thailand beginning January 1, 2019. Beginning on January 1, the Thai Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) will require all U.S. distillers dried grains (DDG) to be fumigated with methyl bromide prior to shipment to Thailand.  APHIS will require that treatment be specified on the Federal Grain Inspection Service Insects in Grain Report 921-2 as a requirement for issuance of an export phytosanitary certificate from January 1, 2019 forward.

The MOA requirement is as follows:

From 1 January 2019, the DDGs consignments have to be fumigated with methyl bromide at 80 g/m for 48 hours at 21 °C and above at NAP ( Normal Atmospheric Pressure). The treatment schedule has to be indicated on Phytosanitary Certificate. Methyl bromide treatment certificate is required.

APHIS further indicated it will engage Thailand’s MOA officials to:

• Replace the required methyl bromide with phosphine.
• Provide for a wider treatment temperature range better approximating the labeled requirements.
• Provide for clarity on whether the treatment certificate will be needed if the required information is provided on the phytosanitary certificate.

NAEGA, working with the Grades and Inspections Committee, is making suggestions for changes to the practices of both governments and communicating worldwide to encourage best and least trade distortive practices be deployed to manage Sanitary and Phytosanitary risks for international movement of grains and oilseeds. Please contact us if you have any questions or comments.

Vietnam actions on Canada Thistle in Soybeans, Wheat and Corn imports

NAEGA continues to monitor developments related the Vietnam Plant Protection Department’s (PPD) plans to implement a re-export requirement on U.S. shipments of soybeans, corn and wheat. Currently, PPD is suspending its January 1, 2019 re-export requirement until a scheduled meeting on January 14, 2019 with USDA APHIS. In light of the U.S. Government shutdown, NAEGA is monitoring this development closely and trying to confirm that the January 14 meeting will still take place.

Trip Reports

Trip reports are now available for the following NAEGA and IGTC MAP related activities during the fall of 2018:

• IGTC Working Visit and Meetings of the Like-Minded Group of Countries in Brazil – September 2018
• IGTC ISF Meetings in Berlin – October 2018
• NAPPO Annual Meeting in Tucson – October 2018
• IGTC Working Visit to South Africa – October 2018

Annual Member Calls

Thank you to all of our members for your help and contributions in 2018! As we prepare for 2019, we are seeking your input and advice. In the coming days we will be reaching out to each member representative to set up time for a call to discuss NAEGA priorities and programming for the 2019 year, and to seek your input and ideas for how we can best serve you.

Please keep an eye out for an email from us requesting your time for a brief call.