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New Zealand has strict biosecurity rules for plant and animal products but also imports large volumes of food and beverage products. This report outlines regulatory requirements for food and agricultural products exported to New Zealand. Key recent changes include regulations relating to organic foods, as well as the introduction of country-of-origin labeling for some products.

This report provides trade data on Vietnam's monthly rice exports by grade and destination and weekly export quotes for rice by grade.

Rice export prices decreased 1-2 percent as new inquiries for white rice were quiet.

In 2022, Indonesia maintained its biodiesel blending mandate at 30 percent and raised its biodiesel allocation volume to a record 10.1 billion liters on expected increased economic activity and mobility following eased pandemic-related restrictions. The export levy that funds the subsidies underwriting the biodiesel mandate program was adjusted to also subsidize cooking oil prices which have surged since late 2021.

On July 8, the General Administration of Customs China (GACC) issued “Announcement No. 58 of 2022,” repealing “Announcement No. 103 of 2020,” which established emergency COVID-19 control measures on imported cold-chain foods. On July 11, GACC issued an “Interpretation” of Announcement No. 58, providing additional guidance.

On July 13, 2022, the Government of Vietnam (GVN) issued Decree 46/2022 amending Decree 13/2020 Guiding the Law on Animal Husbandry, which repeals Article 18.3.c of Decree 13/2020. With this amendment, the GVN no longer requires a Certificate Free Sale (CFS) for imported feed ingredients, including traditional feeds such as corn, soybean meal, DDGS, and single feed ingredients like vitamins, amino acids, and minerals, as part of the registration process for import inspection.

Australia is expected to produce a third consecutive big grain crop in marketing year (MY) 2022/23 after a record setting winter crop and strong summer crop production in MY 2021/22. Another broadly favorable set of conditions around the time of winter grain planting and the early growth phase across most production regions bodes well for wheat and barley production in MY 2022/23.

On July 22, 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) published a revised “Guideline for Safety Assessment of Genetically Modified Plants” for public comments. The Guideline provides technical guidance on the safety assessment requirements for genetically engineered (GE) plants for production application (cultivation) and import for processing materials. The deadline for comment submissions is July 29, 2022.

Following the signing of Republic Act (RA) 11524, February 26, 2021, then President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed Executive Order (EO) 172, Series of 2022, on June 2, 2022, approving the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan. This paves the way for the use of the PHP75 billion ($1.4) fund to rehabilitate the coconut industry.

The Japanese Diet enacted new legislation, the “Act to Promote Environmental Burden Reduction Activities for Establishment of Environmentally Harmonized Food System,” to support adoption of Japan’s Green Food System Strategy by farmers, foresters, and fishermen.

Wheat imports for 2021/22 are revised upward to 11.2 million metric tons (MMT) from the previous estimate of 11.0 MMT, reflecting recovering demand for flour-based foods. In line with increased imports, food, seed, and industry (FSI) wheat consumption is also revised up 2.2 percent to 9.1 MMT of wheat equivalent.

Rice export prices decreased 1-3 percent as the Thai baht continued depreciating against the U.S. dollar.