This Month in FAS--January 2004


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January 2004

	FDA Strengthens Existing Firewalls That Protect Americans From BSE
	FDA will ban a wide range of bovine material from human food including dietary supplements and cosmetics and make changes to the "animal feed" rule. (01/26/04)
	Costa Rica Will Join Recently Concluded Central American Trade Pact
	The United States and Costa Rica concluded negotiations to finalize Costa Rica's participation in the U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), phasing out tariffs and other trade barriers and promoting regional economic integration and growth. The United States concluded negotiations with El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua last month. (01/25/04)
	USDA Invites Applications for Export Assistance Programs
	The programs are the Emerging Markets Program (EMP), Market Access Program (MAP), Quality Samples Program (QSP), Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program and Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program (FMD). (01/23/03)
	USDA Secretary Veneman Addresses the U.S. House Agriculture Committee About BSE
	Discusses last month's finding of a single BSE-positive cow in Washington State and USDA's subsequent response. (01/21/04)
	Satellites Eye Weather, Global Crop Production
	Instruments aboard NASA satellites provide high definition data that USDA uses to make global crop production assessments based on soil moisture, vegetation indexes and other natural phenomena. (01/20/04) -- NASA news release -- Article from Federal GIS Connections
	More Cows From Canada Found in Washington State
	Three more of the cows that came from Canada with the BSE-positive cow were located at a facility in Tenino, Washington; one additional animal was located in Connell. Washington State placed a hold on the Tenino facility to facilitate the investigation. A total of 23 of the 81 cows from Canada have been located. (01/19/04)
	Agriculture Secretaries for United States, Canada and Mexico Issue Joint Statement on BSE, Beef Trade
	USDA Secretary Veneman hosted the first-ever joint meeting to address new challenges presented by the finding of the two BSE-infected cows in the United States and Canada; also, to discuss new measures to resume North American beef trade. (01/16/04) -- Video; Transcript
	Federal Register Publishes USDA's Rules, Notice on BSE
	Federal Register published the following three rules and one notice issued by USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). (01/12/04). -- Prohibition of the Use of Specified Risk Materials for Human Food and Requirements for the Disposition of Non-Ambulatory Disabled Cattle (.pdf; 01/12/04) -- Meat Produced by Advanced Meat/ Bone Separation Machinery and Meat Recovery (AMR) Systems (.pdf; 01/12/04) -- Prohibition of the Use of Certain Stunning Devices Used to Immobilize Cattle During Slaughter (.pdf; 01/12/04) -- Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Surveillance Program (.pdf; 01/12/04) -- USDA BSE Update (01/09/04) Other BSE Updates: -- President's FY 2005 Budget to Include Increased Funding for BSE Related Activities (01/29/04) -- Secretary Veneman Testimony before the Senate Agriculture Committee on BSE (01/27/04) -- USDA BSE Update (01/30/04) -- USDA BSE Update (01/29/04) -- USDA BSE Update (01/28/04) -- USDA BSE Update (01/27/04) -- USDA BSE Update (01/26/04) -- USDA BSE Update (01/23/04) -- Press Briefing on BSE by Dr. J.B. Penn, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, at the Japanese Embassy (01/23/04) -- USDA BSE Update (01/22/04) -- Press Briefing in Japan on BSE by Dr. J.B. Penn, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services (01/22/04) -- USDA BSE Update (01/21/04) -- USDA BSE Update (01/20/04) -- USDA BSE Update (01/19/04) -- USDA BSE Update (01/16/04) -- USDA BSE Update (01/15/04) -- USDA BSE Update (01/14/04) -- USDA BSE Update (01/12/04) -- USDA Technical Briefing Webcast 3 p.m. EST, 01/09/04 - Transcript -- USDA Issues New Regulations To Address BSE (01/08/04) -- Market Context for BSE -- Ongoing Updates From USDA's Economic Research Service
	U.S. Trade Representative Calls for Energizing Global Trade Talks
	United States Trade Representative Robert Zoellick, in a letter to trade ministers, suggests a ministerial in 2004. (01/12/04)
	USDA Grants Assistance to Shrimp Producers in Alabama Under Trade Adjustment Assistance Act
	The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service has certified a petition for shrimp producers in Alabama under the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Farmers program. These producers are now eligible to apply for TAA benefits. (01/12/04)
	USDA Withdraws Jan. 7, 2004, Notices of DEIP Bid Acceptances for Monterey Jack and Mozzarella Cheese
	Withdrawn bids were for Caribbean, Central and South America. On January 15, global DEIP balance for cheese (3,030 metric tons) becomes available for bidding. (01/12/04)
	USDA Issues New Regulations To Address BSE
	USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service issued four new rules to implement announcements made last week by Secretary Veneman to further enhance safeguards against BSE. The rules include product holding, specified risk material, advanced meat recovery, and air-injection stunning. (01/08/04).
	USDA Euthanizes Entire Bull Calf Herd, Continues Locating Animals in Index Herd of BSE-Positive Cow
	Approximately 450 animals euthanized by American Veterinary Medical Association humane guidelines. Animal carcasses secured and disposed of by landfill on January 7; no carcasses entered the human food supply chain or were rendered. USDA located another animal that entered the United States with the index cow. (01/08/04)
	USDA Announces DNA Evidence Verifying Origin of BSE-Positive Cow
	Comparison of DNA from positive cow with DNA from sire helps verify that BSE-positive cow in Washington State originated from an Alberta, Canada, dairy farm. New DNA information, confirmed by both U.S. and Canadian animal health laboratories, increases USDA's confidence in traceback accuracy. (01/06/04)
	USDA Officials Discuss Reopening Mexican Markets to U.S. Beef With Mexican Counterparts
	USDA Under Secretaries Penn and Hawks met with officials from the Mexican Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Food and Fisheries (SAGARPA) to discuss the reopening of the Mexican market to U.S. beef exports. (01/06/03)
	USDA To Depopulate Bull Calf Operation That Includes BSE-Infected Heifer's Calf
	Operations to proceed this week, weather permitting. Calves to be transported from bull calf operation in Sunnyside, Washington, to currently unused slaughter facility. (01/05/04)
	USDA Confirms U.S. Entry of Most Animals Listed on Canadian Health Certificate With BSE Index Cow
	USDA is interested in finding cows not because BSE can spread from cow to cow, but because they possibly shared a common feed source when young. USDA, Canada testing DNA to verify correct animal has been identified with results available as early as this week. (01/02/04)
	USDA Continues To Work With Canadian Officials To Verify Traceback of BSE Animal
	Records indicate that the animal was approximately 6-1/2 years old at the time of slaughter. USDA, Canada testing DNA to verify correct animal has been identified with results available as early as next week. (12/31/03; press release, 12/29/03)
	Secretary Veneman Announces Additional Protection Measures To Guard Against BSE
	New policies evolved since the Canadian case of BSE in May 2003. Certain animals and specified risk material and tissues to be removed from the human food chain, national animal identification system to be implemented. (12/30/03; Video; Transcript) -- APHIS and FSIS continue to work closely with state and other federal agencies as part of this investigation. (12/29/03) -- U.K. Laboratory Confirms Diagnosis of BSE (12/25/03) -- USDA Makes Preliminary Diagnosis of BSE (announcement by USDA Secretary Veneman, 12/23/03; video; transcript) -- U.S. meat and livestock imports/exports by country—annual and year-to-date \| monthly -- Guidance for Exporters \| BSE Trade Ban Status (APHIS) -- BSE Chronology \| More BSE Information Previous technical briefings on the BSE case: -- USDA Technical Briefing Webcast 3 p. m. EST, 01/26/04 - Transcript -- USDA Technical Briefing Webcast 3:30 p.m. EST, 01/06/04 - Transcript -- USDA Technical Briefing Webcast 2 p.m. EST, 01/05/04 - Transcript -- USDA Technical Briefing Webcast 11 a.m. EST, 01/02/04 - Transcript -- USDA Technical Briefing Webcast 2:30 p.m. EST, 12/31/03 - Transcript -- USDA Technical Briefing Webcast 3 p.m. EST, 12/30/03 - Transcript -- USDA Technical Briefing Webcast 2 p.m. EST, 12/29/03 - Transcript -- USDA Technical Briefing Webcast 11 a.m. EST, 12/28/03 - Transcript -- USDA Technical Briefing Webcast 10:30 a.m. EST, 12/27/03 - Transcript -- USDA Technical Briefing Webcast 10:30 a.m. EST, 12/26/03 - Transcript -- USDA Technical Briefing Webcast 10:30 a.m. EST, 12/24/03 - Transcript
	Featured Reports
	01/30 Almonds Top U.S. Exports of Horticultural Products 01/30 Dried Fruit (Dried Plum - Prune) Situation and Outlook 01/30 Raisin Situation and Outlook in Selected Countries 01/30 Citrus Situation and Outlook in Selected Countries 01/30 Orange Juice Situation Outlook in Selected Countries 01/23 Northwest Africa: Autumn Rains Leave Winter Grain in Good Condition 01/23 South Africa: Corn Area at Low Levels 01/16 Global Crop Watch 01/16 ITC Votes to Continue Case on Wooden Bedroom Furniture From China 01/16 United Kingdom Fishery Products Annual Report 2003 01/16 U.S. Seafood Exports Up Slightly in January - November 2003 01/14 Shrinking Middle East Wheat Imports Have Global Implications 01/14 EU-15:2003/04 Oilseed and Cotton Estimates by Country 01/13 Cotton: Changing World Consumption 01/13 Canadian Wheat and Barley Exports Rebound 01/13 Brazil: Amazon Soybeans 01/13 South American Soybeans Continue to Gain World Market Share (.pdf) 12/30 NASA Earth Observatory: Waiting for More Rain in South Africa 12/30 Nonfat Dry Milk, Whole Milk Powder Exports for Selected Countries (charts)
	World Production, Market and Trade Reports
	02/02 Tobacco: World Markets and Trade 01/30 Quarterly Reference Guide to World Horticulture: --Production, Supply, and Distribution Edition 01/30 U.S. Planting Seed Trade 01/16 Fishery Products Monthly Circular 01/16 Forest Products: U.S. Exports Trade Data 01/13 Cotton: World Markets and Trade 01/13 Grains: World Markets and Trade 01/13 Oilseeds: World Markets and Trade 01/12 Early release -- Cotton Data PDF - Excel 01/12 World Agricultural Production - PDF Data 12/31 Tobacco: World Markets and Trade 12/30 Dairy: World Markets and Trade
	USDA Schedules 2004 Release Dates for World Market and Trade Reports
	Federal Register Notices
	01/23/04 Emerging Market Program: Invitation for Applications 01/23/04 Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program: Invitation for Applications 01/23/04 Quality Samples Program: Invitation for Applications 01/23/04 Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops: Invitation for Applications 01/23/04 Market Access Program: Invitation for Applications 01/12/04 Prohibition of the Use of Specified Risk Materials for Human Food and Requirements for the Disposition of Non-Ambulatory Disabled Cattle (.pdf) 01/12/04 Meat Produced by Advanced Meat/ Bone Separation Machinery and Meat Recovery (AMR) Systems (.pdf) 01/12/04 Prohibition of the Use of Certain Stunning Devices Used to Immobilize Cattle During Slaughter (.pdf) 01/12/04 Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Surveillance Program (.pdf) Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers: Approved petitions are available on our Federal Register page.
	Export Sales
	Archival export sales reports are available from 1998 to the present.
	USDA Calendar of Publications
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