Latest News


USDA Issues a Packers and Stockyards Complaint against Adam Smith Livestock

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a complaint against Adam T. Smith, doing business as Adam Smith Livestock (Smith) of Spring Mills, Pa., on April 11, 2023, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.


Agriculture Department discusses Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Delta Health Care Services Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2023 on May 2

The US Agriculture Department published an eight page notice on May 2, according to the U.S. Government Publishing Office.


SNAP E&T Program Creates Opportunities and Incentivizes Work

Release: By Rachel Gragg, Senior Technical Advisor, USDA Food and Nutrition Service.


Weekly Export Sales

This weekly report is a summary of U.S. export sales activity for barley, beef, cattle hides and skins, cattle wet blues, corn, cotton (by type), cottonseed, cottonseed cake and meal, cottonseed oil, flaxseed, grain sorghum, linseed oil, oats, pork, rice, rye, soybeans, soybean cake and meal, soybean oil, sunflower seed oil, wheat (by class), and wheat products.


India: Holding Our Breath - India's FSSAI Updates on the Mandatory Registration Requirements

This GAIN-INDIA report updates the FAS New Delhi (Post) GAIN-INDIA | IN2022-0086 | India’s FSSAI Requires Mandatory Registration of Foreign Food Manufacturing Facilities for the Import of Certain Categories of Foods report (October 24, 2022).


Poland: Poland Allows for Transit of Ukrainian Agri-food Goods but Maintains the Ban on Direct Imports

On April 15, 2023, Poland introduced an entry ban on certain agri-food products from Ukraine, amid difficult economic situation of famers on a domestic market.


Japan: Japan 255th Food Safety Group

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) proposed revisions to Japan’s maximum residue levels for 6 agricultural chemicals (Bifenthrin, Flutolanil, Inpyrfluxam, Picarbutrazox, Pyribencarb, Sethoxydim) for various agricultural commodities.


Canada: Canada Consults on Piperonyl Butoxide Proposed Maximum Residue Limits

Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) opened consultations on proposed maximum residue limits (MRL) for piperonyl butoxide.


Italy: Italian Industrial Hemp Overview 2023

In January 2017, hemp cultivation became legal pursuant to Italian law No. 242/2016 promoting hemp cultivation and its industrial uses, leading to a sector revival, with more than 800 farms cultivating 4,000 hectares (ha).


Japan: Japan JFY2022 Minimum Access Rice Tender Results

In Japan Fiscal Year 2022, Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) awarded 677,714 metric tons of rice through the Minimum Access import system.


Japan: Japan Invites Public Comment on the Guidelines for Handling Alcoholic Beverages with Organisms Developed with Genome Editing Technology

On April 21, Japan's National Tax Agency opened a public comment period for the Guidelines for Handling Alcoholic Beverages with Organisms Developed with Genome Editing Technology.


USDA Settles a Packers and Stockyards Case with Geary Livestock Market LLC

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) entered into a stipulation agreement with Geary Livestock LLC (Geary), on April 9, 2023, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act. Under the terms of the stipulation, Geary waived its rights to a hearing and paid a penalty of $2,000.


USDA Lifts PACA Reparation Sanctions on Florida Produce Business

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that WWD Fruits LLC, doing business as B Fruits, satisfied a $60,725 reparation order issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) involving unpaid produce transactions.


Venezuela: FAIRS Export Certificate Report Annual

This report identifies the export certification requirements for agricultural and food products.


Venezuela: FAIRS Annual Country Report

This report is an annual update of Venezuela's agricultural product import standards and enforcement mechanisms for U.S. exporters of agricultural commodities, foods, and beverages.


Honduras: Sugar Annual

Sugar production and exports are projected slightly up in marketing year (MY) 2024 (October 2023 to September 2024) because of the increase in productivity yields, harvested area, and additional investments made in the sugar sector and increased exports, as the Honduran Sugar Industry fully recovers from the rainy season in November 2022.


Eswatini: Sugar Annual

Post forecasts sugar cane production in Eswatini will increase by 1.5 percent to 5.6 million MT in MY 2023/24, based on increased available irrigation water, expanded planted area, and a return to trend yields.


Chile: Food Processing Ingredients

Chile has a modern and developed food and beverage processing industry. The Chilean food sector is the second most relevant export sector in the country after mining.


Bosnia and Herzegovina: Grain Situation Update

Spring planting in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), which usually takes place in April, is expected to be less costly this year as diesel and fertilizer prices decreased slightly since last year.


Nigeria: Oilseeds and Products Annual

Despite being one of the largest oil palm-producing countries, Nigeria relies on imports to bridge its supply gap.