Harden to lead trade mission to Ghana; FSIS proposes Namibian meat imports
September 21, 2015 |02:08 PM
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden will lead a trade mission to Accra, Ghana, in November to expand export opportunities for U.S. agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa, USDA announced Friday.
Participants on the November 17-20 trip will include representatives from companies representing a wide array of U.S. food and agricultural products, as well as leaders from state departments of agriculture and U.S. agricultural organizations.
“With a strong economic outlook, a growing middle class, and surging demand for consumer-oriented foods, sub-Saharan Africa is one of the fastest-growing regions for U.S. agricultural exports,” USDA said.
USDA noted that over the past decade, U.S. agricultural exports to the region have grown by more than 50 percent, totaling $2.3 billion in 2014.
Exports of consumer-oriented products have grown by nearly 90 percent in just five years, from $480 million in 2010 to a record $909 million in 2014, USDA said.
USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service also announced it is proposing to add Namibia to the list of countries whose meat inspection system is equivalent to the system that the United States has established under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) and its implementing regulations.
A review of Namibia’s laws, regulations, and inspections shows that there is equivalency with respect to beef, FSIS said.
Namibia has advised FSIS that it intends to export only boneless (not ground) raw beef products, such as primal cuts, chuck, blade, and beef trimmings to the United States.
FSIS has only assessed the inspection system with respect to beef, it noted, and if Namibia wants to export other meat products, it would need to submit additional information, FSIS said.
All products that Namibia exports to the U.S. will be subject to re-inspection at United States ports of entry, FSIS added.
Countries to which the United States wishes to export usually ask the United States to allow imports from those countries as well.
Participants on the November 17-20 trip will include representatives from companies representing a wide array of U.S. food and agricultural products, as well as leaders from state departments of agriculture and U.S. agricultural organizations.
“With a strong economic outlook, a growing middle class, and surging demand for consumer-oriented foods, sub-Saharan Africa is one of the fastest-growing regions for U.S. agricultural exports,” USDA said.
USDA noted that over the past decade, U.S. agricultural exports to the region have grown by more than 50 percent, totaling $2.3 billion in 2014.
Exports of consumer-oriented products have grown by nearly 90 percent in just five years, from $480 million in 2010 to a record $909 million in 2014, USDA said.
USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service also announced it is proposing to add Namibia to the list of countries whose meat inspection system is equivalent to the system that the United States has established under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) and its implementing regulations.
A review of Namibia’s laws, regulations, and inspections shows that there is equivalency with respect to beef, FSIS said.
Namibia has advised FSIS that it intends to export only boneless (not ground) raw beef products, such as primal cuts, chuck, blade, and beef trimmings to the United States.
FSIS has only assessed the inspection system with respect to beef, it noted, and if Namibia wants to export other meat products, it would need to submit additional information, FSIS said.
All products that Namibia exports to the U.S. will be subject to re-inspection at United States ports of entry, FSIS added.
Countries to which the United States wishes to export usually ask the United States to allow imports from those countries as well.
