Mexico/China Border/Labeling

China                                                                                            

China Confirms Labeling Requirement From Dec. 1

Despite opposition from the U.S. government, the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) and USMEF, Chinese officials reconfirmed today, in a joint meeting with USDA, USMEF and USAPEEC, their intention to begin enforcement of the inner product labeling requirement from December 1, 2004.  All meat and poultry entering China after that date must contain a bilingual product label with the name of the product in Chinese and English.  There are no labeling size restrictions, print size or label color restrictions, but the label must either be adhered to the inner product packaging (e.g. stuck to the outside of vacuum packed product), adhered to the outside of the poly bag liner, or inserted into the poly bag so that is clearly visible when the carton is opened.  The inner product label should not be place loosely in the carton.  The inner product label should state the commercial term of the product (e.g. pork tenderloins) rather than a generic species name (e.g. pork).   There is no change in the existing requirement that the establishment number also appear on inner packaging.    USDA is seeking to obtain written confirmation of the details of the inner product labeling requirement within the next few days, and has also requested Chinese authorities to notify ports of the specific label requirements and the one-month delay in the implementation of the requirement. 

The Food Safety And Inspection Service (FSIS) has not received official notice from Chinese authorities but is expecting it soon. When the agency is notified, the regulation will be posted in the online Library of Export Requirements.

USMEF submitted comments on the new regulation in August to the Foreign Agricultural Service, the U.S. Trade Representative's office and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in advance of the talks. USMEF asked the U.S. negotiators to press for more realistic criteria for microbiological standards, simplification of import procedures and product labeling and an end to regulatory shelf-life requirements.

For help in product labeling and identification, USMEF produced an International Meat Manual and a Bilingual Labeling Manual, which can be accessed online. The International Meat Manual provides product names and descriptions in five languages: English, Spanish, Korean, Japanese and Mandarin Chinese.

Mexico

Complete Unloading Causes Delays At Border

The Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) in Monterrey, Mexico informed USMEF last week that border inspectors are following Mexican law NOM-030 to the letter and unloading all merchandise from every truck at the inspection point to allow visual inspection to corroborate that the information on the Spanish-language labels is consistent with that on the export certificates. Once all cargo has been unloaded on the platform for this initial inspection, other provisions of NOM-030 are being applied.

The ATO is working with the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries, and Food Products to find a solution to the confusion and disruption at the border and hopes that the situation will be resolved by Friday.

China                                                                                            

China Confirms Labeling Requirement From Dec. 1

Despite opposition from the U.S. government, the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) and USMEF, Chinese officials reconfirmed today, in a joint meeting with USDA, USMEF and USAPEEC, their intention to begin enforcement of the inner product labeling requirement from December 1, 2004.  All meat and poultry entering China after that date must contain a bilingual product label with the name of the product in Chinese and English.  There are no labeling size restrictions, print size or label color restrictions, but the label must either be adhered to the inner product packaging (e.g. stuck to the outside of vacuum packed product), adhered to the outside of the poly bag liner, or inserted into the poly bag so that is clearly visible when the carton is opened.  The inner product label should not be place loosely in the carton.  The inner product label should state the commercial term of the product (e.g. pork tenderloins) rather than a generic species name (e.g. pork).   There is no change in the existing requirement that the establishment number also appear on inner packaging.    USDA is seeking to obtain written confirmation of the details of the inner product labeling requirement within the next few days, and has also requested Chinese authorities to notify ports of the specific label requirements and the one-month delay in the implementation of the requirement. 

The Food Safety And Inspection Service (FSIS) has not received official notice from Chinese authorities but is expecting it soon. When the agency is notified, the regulation will be posted in the online Library of Export Requirements.

USMEF submitted comments on the new regulation in August to the Foreign Agricultural Service, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in advance of the talks. USMEF asked the U.S. negotiators to press for more realistic criteria for microbiological standards, simplification of import procedures and product labeling and an end to regulatory shelf-life requirements.

For help in product labeling and identification, USMEF produced an International Meat Manual and a Bilingual Labeling Manual, which can be accessed online. The International Meat Manual provides product names and descriptions in five languages: English, Spanish, Korean, Japanese and Mandarin Chinese.

Mexico

Complete Unloading Causes Delays At Border

The Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) in Monterrey, Mexico informed USMEF last week that border inspectors are following Mexican law NOM-030 to the letter and unloading all merchandise from every truck at the inspection point to allow visual inspection to corroborate that the information on the Spanish-language labels is consistent with that on the export certificates. Once all cargo has been unloaded on the platform for this initial inspection, other provisions of NOM-030 are being applied.

The ATO is working with the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries, and Food Products to find a solution to the confusion and disruption at the border and hopes that the situation will be resolved by Friday.