Seafood Trade Matters: SRL marketing resources; Lobster access media reports; USA regulations update

SIA: New marketing resources for SRL

Seafood Industry Australia (SIA) has developed a range of marketing tools and collateral for free use by industry in promoting a consistent Australian Southern Rock Lobster brand story.​ 

These creative assets are “white label,” allowing each enterprise to take ownership of its individual brand.​ They are available as a result of the Agricultural Trade and Market Access Cooperation (ATMAC) Program. By requesting access to the assets, you agree that you are an Australian seafood producer and/or exporter.  

Learn more and get access to the new SRL resources on the SIA website here.

China: Media report on live lobster access

The Global Times reports "the resumption of Australian lobster imports is likely to happen soon, possibly by the end of this year, as relevant work is already in progress," (said) Fan Xubing, a director with the China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Alliance.” Read more here. 

China: TRL access reporting from Vietnam

An article on Tuoitrenews.vn provides details of China Customs’ response to Vietnamese officials regarding the suspension of access for wild-caught Tropical Rock Lobster. According to the report: 

“The Chinese authorities required that countries which desire to export tropical rock lobsters to the Chinese market should: 

• show proof that their tropical rock lobsters are farmed and they do not use breeds directly caught from the sea

• they must use lobster larvae that are from at least the second generation removed from the wild

• Tropical rock lobster farming facilities must register with the Chinese side with their information attached.

• The Chinese side will later launch online or direct inspections into these facilities and publicize the list of Vietnamese entities allowed to ship tropical rock lobsters to China on the portal of the General Administration of Customs of China.”

Read more here. 

South Africa: Rock lobster quota reduced

South African authorities are reducing quotas for West Coast Rock Lobster: “Small-scale fishers in the Western Cape have been dealt a heavy blow following the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment decision to slash the West Coast Rock Lobster Total Allowable Catch by almost 17%.” Read more here. 

USA: Expansion of Seafood Import Monitoring Program withdrawn

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the USA has walked back proposals to expand the list of species covered by the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP), a risk-based program for targeted species of seafood imported into the USA. 

According to the official announcement, “In December 2022, NOAA proposed the rule to increase the number of species currently subject to SIMP (from approximately 1,100 individual species to approximately 1,670 individual species), to minimize the risk of mislabeling and product substitution that is used to bypass SIMP requirements, and to make additional program modifications and improvements… However, in response to the extensive public feedback on the proposed rule, the agency will instead conduct a broad review of the program to explore ways to enhance and strengthen its overall impact and effectiveness.” 

Read the full details here. 

USA: Traceability and FSMA 204 Final Rule

The USA has notified the WTO of minor amendments to the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) so-called ‘Final Rule’, which implements Section 204(d) of the Act establishing a framework for end-to-end traceability throughout the US food supply chain. See details here. 

The Next Level Supply Chain Podcast spoke with the Former Deputy Commissioner of Food Policy & Response at the FDA about traceability. He shares insights about what industry should be doing to prepare for implementation of the FSMA 204 Final Rule, which will impose stricter record-keeping requirements on food manufacturers that supply the USA. Watch the interview here. 

USA: Anti-dumping and countervailing duties investigations into shrimp imports

As a global shrimp glut continues to depress prices, Seafoodsource.com reports the American Shrimp Processors Association (ASPA) has claimed that the “U.S. shrimp market has been overwhelmed by massive quantities of underpriced shrimp imports”. 

In response, the Department of Commerce “will conduct antidumping duty investigations of frozen warmwater shrimp from Ecuador and Indonesia and countervailing duty investigations of frozen warmwater shrimp from Ecuador, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam.” Read the article here. 

Japan: Queensland trade delegation

The QLD Government is leading a four-day trade mission to Japan to help Queensland-grown sustainable food and fibre products make their way into Japanese homes. According to the official announcement, “We have an opportunity to export even more of our premium meat, fruit and vegetables, seafood and fibre products, which means more jobs in our agricultural supply chains and regional communities.” Read more here. 

Vietnam: Market opportunity webinar

The Export Council of Australia is assembling an expert panel to discuss the political and economic conditions, commercial opportunities, and tips for success when entering Vietnam. Register here. 

IPEF negotiations stalled

A trade agreement under the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) looks unlikely to be reached, after negotiators failed to reach consensus at APEC in San Francisco last week. 

IPEF is still in progress, with the supply chain pillar already completed and the anti-corruption and decarbonisation pillars nearing completion, but the trade-related provisions are encountering resistance both from participating countries and domestic political factions in the USA. Read more from the Financial Times here (login may be required).  

Ireland: EU aid package to alleviate Brexit impacts

Seafoodsource.com reports the Irish seafood industry will receive subsidies worth EUR 25 million “to alleviate some of the negative effects of Brexit, such as reduced quotas and a downsized national fleet, which have led to skyrocketing local seafood prices and depressed consumption”. Read more here (login may be required).

The STAG is funded by partners:

www.seafoodtradeadvisory.com

The Seafood Trade Advisory Group (STAG) is jointly funded by the Australian government and the fishing industry. We receive funds from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC).which is a statutory authority within the portfolio of the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Water and the Environment. 

 Any information provided in this STAG publication is general in nature. Before acting on any information provided, you should consider its appropriateness to your individual circumstances and business objectives.