News

IGTC Secretariat Working to Make Trade Work

NAEGA staff and several member company representatives are working in coordination with Katy Lee, IGTC Secretariat and NAEGA contractor to implement IGTC’s recently revised 2019 business plan.

 Upcoming nearby IGTC actions include:

January 30 in Geneva: The IGTC Working Group on Electronic Documentation is supporting Katy as she continues her leadership role with the International Plant Protection Convention e-Phyto Solution.  As part of these efforts, Katy will participate in  IPPC ePhyto Industry Advisory Group (IAG) meeting in Geneva on January 25.  IAG is a voluntarily group of private sector stakeholders working to advise the IPPC Secretariat on the feasibility of the ePhyto solution project and its ability to facilitate efficient and effective trade flows.  IGTC chairs the IAG.

March 6-7 in London: Katy will act as a panelist at the International Fertilizer Association (IFA) Production & International Trade Conference, which this year is focused on “Trade tensions on the rise - A look at the potential impacts on agri-food and fertilizer trade.”

March 10-12 in Brussels: at the invitation of IGTC member COCREAL, IGTC will conduct meetings with the European Commission Directorates General for trade, health and food safety, and agriculture; EU Member State representatives; European Parliament committee staff; and Third country representatives in Brussels engaged in plant breeding innovation issues. The standing agenda for these meetings will include assessment of alternative outcomes and implementation of ECJ Opinion; agri-trade issues related to gene editing (e.g. Cartagena Biosafety Protocol, Low Level Presence); opportunities for IGTC members and Corporate Stakeholders to ask specific questions about impacts of EU rules; and communication of trade-positive messaging already agreed in IGTC policy.  An Internal IGTC Policy Team meeting at COCERAL Headquarters is planned for March 12 to debrief from 11 March meetings; discuss IGTC policy and advocacy strategy on plant breeding innovation; and conduct a Round Table to review how new innovations are currently impacting the grain supply chain.

March 13 in Geneva: The IGTC will complete administrative and governance actions related to the transitioning IGTC from NAEGA underwriting including the establishment of financial accounts and controls.

March 14 in London: IGTC will report to and participate in Market Conditions Committee (MCC) meeting of the International Grains Council (IGC). Over the past few years, the IGTC has been deepening its working relationship with the IGC and, in December, signed a memorandum of understanding with the IGC to encourage further collaboration to promote and facilitate the international trade of grains, oilseeds and other agri-bulks.

Multiple additional IGTC actions and events are scheduled through June 2019.  If you are your company would like to directly participate in IGTC please contact Gary.

IGTC Working Visit – Pretoria, South Africa – October 9-12

On October 9-12 Katy Lee, IGTC Secretariat, will travel to Pretoria, South Africa for a working visit with IGTC member association South Africa Cereals and Oilseeds Trade Association (SACOTA). During this visit to South Africa, Ms. Lee will advance NAEGA’s UES objectives focused on support and engagement with the IGTC through here attendance at several meetings and events, including:

  • The South African Cereals and Oilseeds Trade Association’s (SACOTA) annual general meeting on October 10.
  • A presentation to SACOTA on the work of the IGTC, the potential for further collaboration and the potential for funding to implement the projects being driven by the IGTC.
  • Attending a meeting with the South African Department of Agriculture and selected government officials on October 11. During this meeting, Ms. Lee will present the IGTC’s work on a number of issues, such as the implementation of electronic phytosanitary certificates and the Cartagena Biosafety Protocol.

A copy of the notice to post for this travel can be found here.

IGTC Meetings with ISF – Berlin, Germany – October 19-20

On October 19-20 Katy Lee, IGTC Secretariat and Randy Gordon, NGFA President and NAEGA volunteer, will travel to Berlin, Germany to participate in a meeting with the International Seed Federation (ISF). The central theme of the IGTC’s meeting with the ISF will be information sharing on plant breeding innovation for the benefit of the entire agri-food value chain, including consumers. The IGTC will be presenting evidence at this meeting to demonstrate the importance of advance consultation, open dialogue and exchange of information between entities engaged in developing and implementing gene edited traits in grain production, including grain producers, handlers, exporters and importers, and the food and feed and processing sectors.

A copy of the notice to post for this travel can be found here.

USAEDC Conference – Baltimore, MD – November 14-16

On November 14-16 Ryan Olson, NAEGA Director of Operations, will travel to Baltimore, MD to participate in the U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council’s (USAEDC) annual conference. A copy of the agenda for this conference will be shared when it is available. While in Baltimore, Ryan will also represent NAEGA and participate in the USAEDC’s biannual Board of Directors meeting.

COP-MOP – Sharm El Sheikh – November 17-26

On November 17-26 Katy Lee, IGTC Secretariat, will travel to Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt to join and IGTC delegation participating in the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Biosafety Protocol (COP-MOP). While in Egypt, Katy will represent and communicate IGTC policy files on production technology before member governments and participating organizations.  

IGC MCC Meetings – Paris, France – December 3-5

On December 3-5 Katy Lee, IGTC Secretariat and Gary Martin, NAEGA President and CEO and President of the IGTC, will travel to Paris, France to participate in the International Grains Council’s 48th Session. In Paris, relevant industry bodies such as IGTC, observers and the IGC’s 55 government representatives will be in attendance. IGTC will give a presentation on current trade policy and practices during the general session. Along with the general session, Ms. Lee and Mr. Martin will also attend the IGC’s Market Conditions Committee (MCC) meeting.

International Maritime Organization CCC5 – September 10-15 – London, UK

On September 10-15 Ryan will travel to London, United Kingdom to attend the fifth meeting of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Sub-committee on the Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC) as a member of the International Bulk Terminals Association (IBTA) delegation. Over the past few years NAEGA has worked closely with the IBTA to monitor developments at the CCC and weigh in on the CCC’s regulatory initiatives as they impact the bulk grain trade. During this meeting of the CCC, NAEGA and the IBTA will be following changes to the classifications of Distillers Dry Grains and Solubles to ensure that they are trade facilitating. NAEGA will also be monitoring the actions by member states to ensure that past efforts to re-open regulations under the International Grain Code are not revisited. A notice to post for this upcoming travel will be available soon.  

USAEDC Attaché Seminar – July 11-13 – Arlington, Virginia

The U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council will hold its annual Attaché Seminar on July 11-13 in Arlington, Virginia. This year’s seminar includes a number of speakers providing information regarding updates in the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), upcoming plans for the Office of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, as well as several regionally-based breakout sessions led by various FAS attachés. A draft of the agenda can be found here 

U.S. FGIS soybean, corn and canola standards

The NAEGA Grades and Inspections Committee is coordinating with the National Grain and Feed Association’s Grades and Weights Committee to respond to U.S. Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) request for public comment on current Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) standards for canola, corn and soybeans as follows:

 

Responses to all three requests are due December 3, 2018.

 

The Agency reports that the purpose of these requests for comments is to ensure that standards and official grading practices remain relevant and effective. While the standards and grading practices for all three commodities are relevant to NAEGA interests the soybean standards likely will need and attract the most attention given the ongoing issues with China, and in particular the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's inappropriate use of FM (a grain quality factor) on phytosanitary certificates (reserved for plant disease or plant pest matters).  We anticipate that soybean producer and marketing organizations will focus heavily on the definition and measurement of foreign material in the U.S. soybean standards.  There also may be consideration given to changing soybean FM to differentiate and account for soybean pieces and hulls, thereby more closely mirroring the BCFM factor in the corn standards.

 

Please let us know your views.   

 

USAEDC Attaché Seminar

The U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council will hold its annual Attaché Seminar on July 11-13 in Arlington, Virginia. This year’s seminar includes a number of speakers providing information regarding updates in the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), upcoming plans for the Office of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, as well as several regionally-based breakout sessions led by various FAS attachés. A draft of the agenda can be found here.