BOARD MEMBERS
BOARD MEMBERS
MONTHLY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORTS
MONTHLY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORTS
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SOUTHEAST & SOUTH ASIA
Southeast and South Asia
(Stage 1-4)
Myanmar/
Burma
(Stage 3)
Cambodia
(Stage 2)
Background[1] and FAEA Programs:
Myanmar/Burma (Stage 2) - Burma is in the process of adopting a new National Food Law that was drafted with assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The Department of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Ministry of Health and Sports (MOHS) is the lead agency drafting the new law. The Food Law Drafting Committee includes the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation (MOALI); Ministry of Health and Sport, Ministry of Commerce; Myanmar Police Force; Rangoon, Naypyitaw and Mandalay City Development Committees; Union Attorney General Office (UAGO); and the Ministry of Education. The draft National Food Law was returned to FDA from the Pyithuhluttaw Judiciary and Legal Committee with comments. FDA is revising the draft and is expecting to finalize it in 2020. The Burmese FDA is also preparing the food regulations to implement the law.
The Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Division (LBVD) prepared the New Animal Health and Development Law, and Burma’s House of Representatives Pyithu Hluttlaw approved it in September 2019. The next step in the process is approval from Burma’s Assembly of the Union Amyotha Hluttaw before submitting it to the President’s office for signature. LVBD is also drafting the Animal Feed and Veterinary Drugs Law.
Cambodia (Stage 2) – Cambodia is developing new food and feed safety laws. The FAEA Executive Director met with Cambodian Ministry of Commerce and Agriculture officials in Phnom Penh in late 2019 and learned that officials have drafted legislation that is now being reviewed but has not yet been approved for submission and passage.
Results:
Burma and Cambodia - The ultimate objective for FAEA in Burma and Cambodia is for them to adopt viable and internationally acceptable food and feed safety, animal health, and veterinarian laws and regulations. In recent years, FAEA has worked with officials in both countries in the development of language for inclusion their respective laws. However, the laws are still being revised and/or are being held by the bureaucracies for further review and acceptance by the various regulatory agencies that will be implementing them. No significant projects were conducted in 2020 because of the lack of progress in passing legislation.
Next Steps:
Burma and Cambodia - FAEA will monitor progress by the Burmese and Cambodian Ministries and Parliaments in passing respective food safety legislation that is currently on hold in both countries. We will formalize monthly reporting and intelligence gathering on their progress as well as identify any SPS and TBT developments that potential threaten imports of U.S. products. As and when needed, the Executive Director will travel to one or both of the countries if it is determined that FAEA leadership and assistance can be helpful in facilitating the passage of the legislation.
Vietnam
(Stage 4)
Background[1] and FAEA Programs:
Vietnam (Stage 4) - Vietnam’s National Assembly promulgated the Law on Food Safety (FSL) 55/2010/QH12 on June 17, 2010, which entered into force on July 1, 2011. The FSL assigns three ministries, the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) responsibility for the inspection of imported foods. To improve the enforcement of the FSL, the Government of Vietnam (GVN) issued Decree 15/2018 on February 2, 2018, which took effect immediately. This Decree makes fundamental changes to the registration and inspection for both domestic and imported food and the assignment of food safety management among MOH, MARD, and MOIT.
Vietnam was one of the first countries that FAEA assisted with its food, feed and animal safety laws soon after the organization was established in 2004.
Results:
Vietnam – FAEA was successful in working with Vietnamese officials in drafting their food and plant safety law and regulations and their animal health law and regulations. Vietnam is now one of the largest and fastest-growing markets in Southeast Asia for exports of U.S. food and agriculture products. Soybeans/products and feed grains together accounted for 72 percent of total FAEA exports to Vietnam on average over the past five years. Dairy products were the next highest, followed by poultry/eggs, and then beef and pork. However, recent proposals in 2019 and 2020 by Vietnam’s regulators have the potential to be trade-restrictive, so FAEA must continue to monitor the situation there and intervene as needed.
Next Steps:
Vietnam - FAEA will formalize monthly reporting and intelligence gathering to identify any new SPS and TBT developments that could restrict imports of U.S. products into the country. FAEA will implement activities to combat the implementation of any such barriers to trade.
Pakistan
(Stage 1)
Background[1] and FAEA Programs:
Pakistan (Stage 1) – Pakistan is a new country of interest for FAEA. The federal government generally applies Codex food standards and guidelines in the regulation of imported food products. Our goal is to identify areas where FAEA can assist to further unify Pakistan’s laws and regulations to mirror those who are science-based and consistent with the WTO. This will not only strengthen domestic food policy and enforcement but ease trade in U.S. goods as harmonization takes place across Asia.
Results:
Pakistan – N/A. Up to 2020, FAEA has not initiated activities in Pakistan.
Next Steps:
Pakistan – FAEA will formalize monthly reporting and intelligence gathering to identify any SPS and TBT developments and the Executive Director will travel there to explore more proactive engagement if the intelligence and/or FAEA members deem it necessary.