United States

Agriculture

Foreign

Agricultural

Service

Circular Series

FFVS 3-98

March 1998

July 1997-January 1998 Highlights

Canadian Planting Seed Imports by Major Suppliers

July-June 1992/93 Through 1996/97

Source: Statistics Canada

TC&SD/C&MP/FAS/USDA

1992/93 1993/94 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

Marketing Years

$ Millions

All

Others

Denmark

Germany

Chile

Netherlands

United

States

General Trade Summary

U.S. planting seed exports during July 1997-January

1998 totaled 545,050 metric tons valued at $554.2

million, a decrease of 20 percent in volume but an

increase of 2 percent in value over the same period

in 1996/97. Imports for the period totaled 78,866

tons (about 1 percent above a year ago) valued at

$177.0 million (15 percent above last year).

Attache Reports

Following are excerpts from U.S. Agricultural

Attache reports recently received in

FAS/Washington. Copies of the complete reports

may be obtained by contacting the Cotton, Oilseeds,

Tobacco, and Seeds Division at the address,

telephone or Fax number listed on the back cover.

Canada (Report number CA8010): Several

regulatory changes affecting the seed industry

occurred over the past year. Among them was the

establishment of the Canadian Food Inspection

Agency (CFIA) in April 1997. CFIA has acquired

the authority to regulate agricultural products of

biotechnology from Agriculture and Agri-Food

Canada (AAFC). CFIA's approach to regulating

products of biotechnology is based upon the

following principles:

- Building upon existing legislation where possible. 

Under the Seeds Act, seeds developed through

biotechnology must meet the same requirements as

those developed through more traditional methods. 

Field testing of genetically engineered plants must be

approved by CFIA's Plant Products Division.

- Regulation based upon product characteristics. 

The scientific evaluation process addresses primarily

the characteristics of the product rather than the

method by which it was produced.

- Regulation on a case-by-case basis. This applies

whether the product was developed through

biotechnology or through traditional methods. 

Plants, including seed, with novel traits are subject

to the Plant Protection Act and Regulations and the

Seeds Act and Regulations. CFIA'S primary

requirements include:

- a safety assessment from the Plant Products

Division;

- for imported seed, a safety assessment and an

import permit from the Plant Protection Division;

- authorization from the Plant Biotechnology Office

of the Plant Products Division for confined release

into the environment for field testing;

- authorization from the Plant Biotechnology Office

for environmental (unconfined) release into the

environment.

Plants with novel traits are also subject to

requirements relating to the end use of the plant. 

For example, Health Canada would require a food

safety assessment under the Novel Food

Regulations if the novel plant material is to be used

as food. Similar requirements exist for CFIA

approval under the Feeds Act for novel plant

material to be used as animal feed.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF

AGRICULTURE

FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE

1400 INDEPENDENCE AVENUE, SW

STOP 1004

WASHINGTON, DC 20250-1004

For questions concerning your subscription or change of address,

PRINT OR TYPE the new address, including ZIP code and return

this sheet to:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION CENTER

SPRINGFIELD, VA 22161

For questions or concerns on the data included in this publication,

contact us at the address shown above.

For Further 

Information Contact:

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Foreign Agricultural Service

Cotton, Oilseeds, Tobacco and Seeds Division

1400 Independence Avenue S.W.

STOP 1051

Washington, D.C. 20250-1051

Telephone: 202-720-9491

FAX: 202-690-1171

e-mail: coonrod@fas.usda.gov

Larry Blum Director

Elizabeth Callanan Deputy Director/Marketing

Frank Coolidge Deputy Director/Analysis

Loyd G. Coonrod Seed Marketing and Analysis

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race,

color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation and marital or familial status. 

(Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for

communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at

202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal

employment opportunity employer.

U.S. Planting Seed Exports by Group

July-January 1988/89 Through 1997/98

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

TC&SD/C&MP/FAS/USDA

1988/89

1989/90

1990/91

1991/92

1992/93

1993/94

1994/95

1995/96

1996/97

1997/98

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

Marketing Years

$ Millions

Miscellaneous

Kinds

Pulses

Grasses

Other

Forages

Vegetables

Field

Crops

Trade Inquiries

The following trade inquiries were recently

submitted by a U.S. agricultural office for

publication as a “Trade Lead.” For more

information about Trade Leads call 202-690-3416.

Seeds for Sowing, tree and shrub-Japan Kenaf

Seeds QUANTITY: Small start. QUALITY:

Good. DELIVERY: Year around. PACKAGING:

Export standard. OTHER: Company ref: An

importer established in 1968 with annual imports of 

$5 million. QUOTE: FOB. BANK: The Bank of

Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Osaka Branch. CONTACT: Mr.

T. Horikawa, Miki Corporation, 2-800, Umeda 1-2,

Kita-ku Osaka, 530-0001, Japan Phone: 011-81-6-

345-6404. FAX: 011-81-6-345-6821.