The latest IGTC newsletter is now available! This week’s newsletter includes an update on the IGTC’s work on the IPPC’s ISPM for grain, an invitation to a Codex Commission event in Geneva, and an update on IGTC work at the World Trade Organization on e-certifications.
For more details, read the IGTC Newsletter here or visit the IGTC website at www.igtcglobal.org.
NAEGA volunteer Jess McCluer has returned from a very successful trip to Geneva for a meeting of the UN’s Subcommittee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. On top of the agenda was consideration of a non-binding annex on dust explosion hazards developed by the Subcommittee Correspondence Group. Over the past few years the Subcommittee has been considering classifying grain as an explosive material. Development of the non-binding annex was undertaken by the Correspondence Group, on which Jess sits, as a way solution to prevent the classification of grain as explosive. At this meeting the non-binding annex was submitted for consideration and, after some discussion, the annex was provisionally adopted for full consideration of by the UN Transportation of Dangerous Goods and GHS Committee in December. The conclusion of this effort in the Subcommittee means that the U.S. delegation has been prevented from creating a binding chapter to the GH on the classification of combustible dust that would have included whole grain.
A trip report, and more details on these developments, will be available soon.
A trip report is now available for Gary’s travel to Cancun, Mexico to participate in and present before the 24th Annual NAEGA-APPAMEX Forum. In Cancun, Gary presented before the forum on Agri-Bulks Trade Repositioning for the Agri-Food Industry in Mexico; hosted a private, off-the-record breakfast with USDA FAS, the Canadian Embassy and the Government of Mexico to discuss the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA); and briefed the APPAMEX Board of Directors on NAFTA negotiations and objectives. The dialogue and networking effectively resulted in expanded good will and continued interest in placing a priority U.S. agricultural exports to serve Mexico’s needs.
A copy of the trip report can be found here.
On Monday, July 18 NAEGA and NGFA submitted joint comments to Global Affairs Canada regarding consultations on the renegotiation and modernization of the North American Free Trade Agreement. NAEGA and NGFA joint comments laid out five negotiating priorities, including:
In addition, the statement also calls on the Canadian government to preserve all current market access concessions and address ongoing market access challenges related to the dairy industry.
A copy of the comments can be found here.
On July 12 and 13 Gary and Ryan attended the U.S. Agriculture Export Development Council’s (USAEDC) Attached Seminar in Arlington, VA. At the seminar Gary and Ryan discussed NAEGA and IGTC UES priorities and programming with USDA FAS attaché’s from the EU, Vietnam, Tokyo, Beijing, Kenya, Moscow and Tunisia.
In addition to meeting with USDA FAS attaché’s, Gary and Ryan joined the seminar plenary session where they learned more about the Trump Administration’s trade agenda from Ray Starling, Special Assistant to the President for Agriculture, Trade and Food Assistance, National
Economic Council and Jason Hafemeister, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, USDA.
Please contact Gary and Ryan if you would like to learn more.
On June 27 and 28 the IGTC Secretariat Katy Lee and President Gary Martin participated in the International Plant Protection Convention’s (IPPC) ePhyto Industry Advisory Group meeting in Arlington, VA. The IPPC, the main UN body leading a pilot project on the exchange of electronic phytosanitary certificates, led the meeting which involved 15 countries including Argentina, Australia, China, USA, Netherlands and Egypt. The IAG is currently advising the IPPC on the ePhyto program, which will allow National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs) to exchange phytosanitary certificates. The program is currently being tested and the pilot will officially be up and running by September 2017. Following the meeting, IAG participants also conducted an outreach session with D.C. Embassies from around the world. During the session, Gary gave a presentation that raised the awareness of the potential benefits of trade digitization, including increased efficiency, cost reduction and more secure transactions.
A trip report is now available for Katy’s travel to the International Seed Federation’s (ISF) World Congress and Plant Breeding Innovation Working Group meeting in Budapest, Hungary. In Budapest Katy attended the Plant Breeding Innovation Working Group meeting of the International Seed Federation (ISF) and the annual World Seed Congress, which included an “open session” of the Plant Breeders meeting. During the meetings, IGTC made progress on its Plant Breeding Innovation file, one of its most important in 2017. Over the past year, the IGTC has been considering policy and information sharing plans with the ISF related to new plant breeding innovations (PBI). Over this period, the IGTC and the ISF have been working closely to find common ground and develop common communications plans toward securing international regulatory coherence and compatibility on PBIs.
A copy of the trip report can be found here.
In compliance for FAS Market Access Program regulations NAEGA has submitted its Fraud prevention and contracting guidelines to FAS for approval. NAEGA’s Fraud Prevention policies help to prevent fraud in the use of NAEGA funds and MAP program expenses. The Contracting guidelines lay out rules NAEGA staff must follow when soliciting contracts from outside vendors of more than $35,000. Both policies comply with FAS rules regarding fraud prevention and contracting procedures.
A copy of the Fraud Prevention policy can be found here. A copy of the Contracting Procedures can be found here. For more information, please contact Ryan.
On Thursday, June 29 NAEGA submitted its annual 2016 Contribution Report to FAS, officially closing out the 2016 MAP Program Year. The contribution report highlights industry and staff contributions to NAEGA’s Unified Export Strategy (UES) efforts. Per MAP regulations, NAEGA and NAEGA industry personnel must contribute the same amount of money to NAEGA’s UES as allocated in its MAP agreement, plus 10 percent. In 2016, NAEGA and its membership contributed 167 percent of its MAP allocation to its UES objectives. Thank you to all NAEGA members and member personnel who worked to accomplish NAEGA’s UES objectives, proving once again that NAEGA is dedicated to “working together to make trade work”!
A copy of the NAEGA contribution report can be found here. For more information, please contact Ryan.
The latest IGTC newsletter is now available! This week’s newsletter welcomes the Ukrainian Grain Association to IGTC membership, includes a debrief on the IPPC ePhyto IAG meetings in Arlington and an update on Gary’s visit to Geneva for an IGTC Strategy Session.
For more details, read the IGTC Newsletter here or visit the IGTC website at www.igtcglobal.org.
North American Export Grain Association
1400 Crystal Drive, Suite 260
Arlington, VA 22202
Telephone: 202-682-4030
Fax: 202-682-4033
Email: info@naega.org
