Browse Data and Analysis

FAS Mumbai forecasts marketing year (MY) 2023/24 cotton production at 26 million 480 lb. bales on 12.7 million hectares area planted, unchanged from the previous forecast. A strong pace of new crop arrivals during the first four months of the MY indicates a much larger crop size than previous trade estimates.

On January 26, 2024, the European Commission approved two genetically engineered crops (1 maize and 1 rapeseed) for food and animal feed. The two authorizations were published in the European Union’s Official Journal on January 30, 2024, and they remain valid for 10 years.

On January 10, the Quebec Ministry of the French Language launched consultations on the Draft Regulations, which includes necessary amendments and clarifications to Bill 96, An Act respecting French, passed on June 1, 2022.

The Competition Commission of South Africa, and independent body under the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition announced the launch of a comprehensive market inquiry that will seek to determine if the South African poultry industry is impeding, distorting, or restricting competition in a way that violates the South African Competition Act.

Rice export prices decreased 1-3 percent mainly due to further weakening of the Thai baht.

Costa Rica declared the re-emergence of New World screwworm a national emergency on February 7, 2024, nearly 7 months after reporting its first case since the late 1990s.

On February 2, 2024, the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization (JSMO) notified G/TBT/N/JOR/55 to the World Trade Organization, Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade.

On January 31, the United Kingdom published draft regulations expanding the “not for EU” label beyond Northern Ireland (NI) to apply to Great Britain (GB) - England, Scotland and Wales.

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) published the final version of the "The Law of the People’s Republic of China on Assuring Food Security" on December 29, 2023.

On January 25, 2024, the Government of Mexico implemented a decree modifying provisions of the Federal Labor Law and the Social Security Law related to agricultural labor rights.

The United States solidified its position as one of the four leading suppliers of consumer-oriented agricultural products to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2022, contributing more than $1 billion in value.

On January 19, 2024, China’s Food Safety Standards Monitoring and Evaluation Department of the National Health Commission (NHC) released a letter soliciting public comments in China on four National Food Safety Standards, including Draft National Food Safety Standard General Principles for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods.