Browse Data and Analysis

The Netherlands, as a Member State of the European Union (EU), conforms to all EU regulations and directives. However, rules for the certification of imports are complicated and, in practice, are not always harmonized across EU Member States. This report lists the recent developments related to Dutch import requirements for the certification of agricultural and food imports.

This is a weekly report outlining the prices of agricultural commodities in Bangladesh, as well as major trade and policy updates.

The implementation of a much-debated deposit scheme for metal cans in the Netherlands has been delayed until April 1, 2023, due to information technology challenges surrounding the deposit system and an insufficient number of machines to press returned cans.

A Value Added Tax (VAT) of zero percent for vegetables and fruit was part of the 2021 Dutch government's coalition agreement. Realizing this VAT reduction, however, has been met with several challenges pertaining to efficiency, efficacy, and feasibility.

On November 26, 2020, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock enacted the Fisheries and Fisheries (Inspection and Quality Control) Act 2020 to enforce new laws reflecting the repealed provision of the Fish and Fish Products (Inspection and Quality Control) Ordinance 1983.

On April 24, 2018, the Ministry of Agriculture issued the Plant Quarantine Rules 2018 to protect domestic plants and plant products from foreign invasive insects and pests. The Rules shared formats for import permits, phytosanitary certificates, and import permit applications.

This is a weekly report outlining the prices of agricultural commodities in Bangladesh, as well as major trade and policy updates.

On June 9, 2020, the Seed Division of the Ministry of Agriculture released the Seed Rules 2020. The Rules cover the functions and responsibilities of the National Seed Board, seed laboratories, seed inspectors, seed analysts, and seed dealers, as well as the rules and procedures for seed sampling, certification, and registration or release of crop varieties.

On November 14, 2018, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock enacted the Fish Quarantine Act 2018 which issues provisions regarding pathogens and quarantine of fish and fish products. The Act covers the fish quarantine authority; import permits, controls, restrictions, bans, and detentions; and fish pathogen restrictions and elimination.

For marketing year (MY) 2022/23, Post forecasts cotton harvested area and production at 45 thousand hectares and 153 thousand bales, respectively. Post reduced Bangladesh’s cotton import forecast for MY 2022/23 to 8 million bales on high international raw cotton prices, reduced garment production due to a domestic power shortage, and the slowdown of the world economy.

The Government of Bangladesh has demonstrated a willingness to adopt and implement a modern agricultural policy framework and guidelines which support the safe and appropriate use of science and technology, including biotechnology, to help meet agricultural challenges.

This is a weekly report outlining the prices of agricultural commodities in Bangladesh, as well as major trade and policy updates.