Russia Bans Canadian Pork April 1
Russia
Russia Bans Canadian Pork April 1
Russia meat inspection authorities have informed their Canadian counterparts that they will no longer recognize the current Canadian pork certification dated after April 1, 2008, due to Russian claims of negligence in following import procedures. At a meeting on March 17, Sergei Dankvert, the Russian agriculture minister, voiced concerns that the Canadians had failed to sign a memorandum which guaranteed that its meat shipments meet retail standards. Canadian representatives refused to sign a memorandum guaranteeing that Canadian veterinarians are fully in charge of inspections because they have not signed such a memorandum with any other country. The European Union and Brazil did sign this Russian memorandum. The Russians also insisted on certificates on special paper with individual identification numbers and no corrections. After this meeting, Canadian pork was banned and its list of approved plants suspended. Before the meeting it had been expected that the Canadian plants inspected by Russian vets in Nov. 2007 would be approved for retail and all other Canadian government approved plants would later be retail-approved as well.
On a related issue, USMEF-Russia reports that Russian authorities plan to extend the new electronic verification system to meat products originating from all countries. Brazil and Canada have already adopted this system designed to detect counterfeit vet certificates.
Industry News
Ellen Terpstra Nominated to Serve as USTR Chief Agricultural Negotiator
Ellen Terpstra, deputy under secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, has been nominated by President George Bush to be chief agricultural negotiator for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, replacing Dr. Richard Crowder. Her appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Previously, Ms. Terpstra was the head of USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), which oversees and coordinates all of USDA’s international activities. Outside of USDA, Ms. Terpstra previously served in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative as a trade negotiator and policy coordinator. Ms. Terpstra's private sector experience includes work as president and chief executive officer of the USA Rice Federation and president of the U.S. Apple Association. She holds a bachelor of science degree from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service.
As chief agricultural negotiator, Ms. Terpstra will be responsible for directing U.S. agricultural trade negotiations. At the multilateral level, Ms. Terpstra will work closely with Dr. Joe Glauber, who will continue in his role as U.S. Special Doha Envoy, to bring the Doha Round to a successful conclusion.
Russia
Russia Bans Canadian Pork April 1
Russia meat inspection authorities have informed their Canadian counterparts that they will no longer recognize the current Canadian pork certification dated after April 1, 2008, due to Russian claims of negligence in following import procedures. At a meeting on March 17, Sergei Dankvert, the Russian agriculture minister, voiced concerns that the Canadians had failed to sign a memorandum which guaranteed that its meat shipments meet retail standards. Canadian representatives refused to sign a memorandum guaranteeing that Canadian veterinarians are fully in charge of inspections because they have not signed such a memorandum with any other country. The European Union and Brazil did sign this Russian memorandum. The Russians also insisted on certificates on special paper with individual identification numbers and no corrections. After this meeting, Canadian pork was banned and its list of approved plants suspended. Before the meeting it had been expected that the Canadian plants inspected by Russian vets in Nov. 2007 would be approved for retail and all other Canadian government approved plants would later be retail-approved as well.
On a related issue, USMEF-Russia reports that Russian authorities plan to extend the new electronic verification system to meat products originating from all countries. Brazil and Canada have already adopted this system designed to detect counterfeit vet certificates.
Industry News
Ellen Terpstra Nominated to Serve as USTR Chief Agricultural Negotiator
Ellen Terpstra, deputy under secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, has been nominated by President George Bush to be chief agricultural negotiator for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, replacing Dr. Richard Crowder. Her appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Previously, Ms. Terpstra was the head of USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), which oversees and coordinates all of USDA’s international activities. Outside of USDA, Ms. Terpstra previously served in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative as a trade negotiator and policy coordinator. Ms. Terpstra's private sector experience includes work as president and chief executive officer of the USA Rice Federation and president of the U.S. Apple Association. She holds a bachelor of science degree from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service.
As chief agricultural negotiator, Ms. Terpstra will be responsible for directing U.S. agricultural trade negotiations. At the multilateral level, Ms. Terpstra will work closely with Dr. Joe Glauber, who will continue in his role as U.S. Special Doha Envoy, to bring the Doha Round to a successful conclusion.