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On December 28, the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) published Announcement No. 131 of 2022, indicating a change in classification of COVID-19 controls and management was forthcoming. The Announcement states...

On December 26, several authorities of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) issued Announcement No. 132 of 2022 related to the development of an online verification program of several agricultural and related product import tariff quota certificates...

France, as a member of the European Union (EU), generally follows EU directives, regulations, and obligations. This report focuses on food laws in force in France that cover areas which are not EU harmonized. EU regulations are explained in the Food...

U.S. beef exports to East Asia in 2022 are again on record pace after a record year in 2021. Despite economic uncertainties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, continued global supply chain challenges, and a competitive global beef market, U.S. beef exports to East Asia, both in value and volume, were outstanding in the first half of 2022.

The French livestock industry depends on imported genetically engineered (GE) feed, especially soybean, rapeseed, and corn. However, France has no commercial production or field trials of GE crops. While most French scientists and farmers are generally supportive of biotechnology, consumer attitudes toward GE are primarily negative.

On January 24, 2022 the French State Council provisionally overruled the December 2021 ministerial order banning the sale of raw CBD hemp flowers and leaves. The court noted that the flowers and leaves of cannabis sativa L. with a THC content of less than 0.3 percent were “devoid of narcotic properties” and could therefore be marketed in France.

Estimated cotton imports for marketing year (MY) 22/23 are reduced to 1.4 million metric tons (MMT) on high carry-in stocks, higher domestic production, weak consumption, and uncertainty concerning the issuance of additional import quota. Consumption is reduced to 7.7 MMT in both MY 21/22 and MY 22/23 on restrictive zero-COVID polices and slower economic growth that has resulted in lower demand for textile and apparel products.

On December 2, 2022, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) published a notice for public comment on 173 products from the European Union (EU) that are applying for protection as geographic indicator (GI) products.

The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) recently amended the existing Administrative Measures for Organic Product Certification which was enforced on April 1, 2014.

On November 14, 2022, China notified a revised draft for the “National Standard of the People's Republic of China (PRC) Cotton—Saw Ginned Upland Cotton” to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. The PRC requested WTO members submit comments in 60 days. This standard will replace GB 1103.1 - 2012 Cotton - Part 1: Saw Ginned Upland Cotton.

Marketing year (MY) 2022/23 China's frozen French fry (FFF) exports are estimated at 84,000 metric tons (MT), approximately 12 percent higher than the previous year.

On November 28, 2022, the State Council Tariff Commission (SCTC) extended the Section 301 retaliatory tariff exclusions on 11 agricultural products, including shrimp for cultivation, whey for feed, fishmeal for feed, alfalfa, and six hardwood products. TC.