Northwest Horticultural Council

Country Alerts

Egypt Launches Single Window Pre-Clearance System

Current situation: Egypt’s Ministry of Finance issued Decree 38/2021 for pre-shipment registration under the National Single Window for Foreign Trade Facilitation (Nafeza) system.  Full implementation is expected by October 1, 2021.  Both U.S. exporters and Egyptian importers must register with Nafeza to obtain unique identification numbers. After a Nafeza number is assigned both the importer and exporter will have access to training materials and the importer will be able to register an export shipment.

After Nafeza registration shipments may commence.  The new Advance Cargo Information (ACI) system will be used to track individual shipments and requires importers to obtain an identification number for each shipment, called an Advanced Cargo Identification ID (ACID) number.  Egyptian importers will apply for an ACID number and an automatic email will be sent to the U.S. exporter to provide shipment information – within 48 hours of export departure.  Exporters are encouraged to work with their Egyptian importers to provide the proper documents.

 A Single Window Customs Initiative

The new single-window system is administered by Misr Technology Services (MTS) and seeks to modernize and automate customs administration, simplify procedures, and reduce clearance times. The decree requires that consignment documents for Egyptian agencies at ports of entry including Customs, General Organization for Import & Export Control (GOEIC), National Food Safety Authority, and the Ministry of Agriculture’s Plant Quarantine and Veterinary Services must be submitted by the importer through the single window system 48 hours prior to shipment arrival.

The new system was launched on April 1, 2021.  The first users of this system have encountered difficulties normally associated with a new launch of this type.  MTS is actively addressing functional difficulties as they become aware.  See USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) GAIN Report, Egypt Launches Single Window Pre-Clearance System here.

New fees associated with each shipment are estimated at approximately $65, however, these fees should be offset by the elimination of previously required document legalization fees, exceeding $400.

For more information, see July 25, 2021, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service GAIN report here.

Updated: 8/23/2021

Northwest Horticultural Council

Country Alerts

Taiwan Increases Pesticide MRL Inspections

Current Situation: As of March 15, 2021, Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) has increased pesticide MRL inspection of U.S. apple imports to 20-50 percent of shipments.  There have been nine non-compliance pesticide residue violations within the past six months, and a total of 13 violations since April 2019.  Shippers are advised to be vigilant with product bound for Taiwan during this period.

If any importer importing a product under the same HS code product from the same origin has further detections, TFDA will inspect 100 percent of that importer’s shipments. This is now the case for one importer.

Increased inspection rates of 20 – 50 percent are expected through at least September 14, 2021. However, these increased rates may extend to a full six-month period following the last non-compliance violation. USDA Foreign Agriculture Service is still confirming how long the increased inspection rate period will last.

If there are no further detections during this six-month observation period, TFDA will revert to the standard testing rate of 2-10 percent.

Most recently, notices for two additional violations for the fungicide pyrimethanil (Penbotec) (MRL of 7ppm) were published on May 11, 2021.

Previous violations were:

• Three for pyrimethanil (MRL of 7 ppm) since December 2020.
• Four non-compliance violations for pyrimethanil between April 2019 and March of 2020.
• One for the fungicide Penthiopyrad (Fontelis), for which there is no established MRL.
• Three for the insecticide cyantraniliprole (Exirel) for which there is no established MRL.

Contact: If you have any questions, please contact Northwest Horticultural Council vice president for scientific affairs, David Epstein, at 509-654-3713.

Updated: 5/12/2021

Northwest Horticultural Council

U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)

On September 30, 2018, Canada, Mexico, and the United States of America reached an agreement to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).  The new agreement, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), will enter into effect only after legislative approval in each country and at some future, yet to be determined, implementation date.

The Northwest Horticultural Council supports ratification by Congress of the USMCA. The trade agreement achieves the NHC’s principle negotiating objectives and provides a solid foundation from which Pacific Northwest tree fruit growers, packers, and shippers will continue their positive and overwhelmingly beneficial trading relationship with customers in these critically important countries.  

The text of the agreement may be found here.  A fact sheet describing the USMCA as it pertains to agriculture may be found here.