Browse Data and Analysis

On February 13, 2023, the National Health Commission (NHC) published an announcement to collect public comments from domestic stakeholders on the formulation or revision of 38 national food safety standards.

On February 2, 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) published a notice on the "Guidelines for Applications for New Plant-Extracted Feed Additives" along with revisions on approved additives. This report provides an unofficial translation of the MARA notice.

From September 24 to October 16, 2022, FAS New Delhi (Post) organized a nationwide “Taste of America Fusion Food” campaign at “Social,” (Social Ltd.) a chain of contemporary bistro restaurants. The three-week Taste of America promotion, held in eight, Social Ltd. outlets across five cities, highlighted the versatility, flavor, and wholesomeness of select U.S. food ingredients that can be utilized in India’s rapidly growing restaurant industry.

On February 8, 2023, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) notified on its website the Corrigendum 12014/01/2020-QA (January 19, 2022). This corrigendum modifies the earlier FSSAI Order No. 12014/01/2020-QA (November 3, 2021).

On February 1, 2023, India’s Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue issued Notification No. 02/2023-Customs in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Subsection (i) (official gazette), whereby it sets the import duty tariff rate for pecans, HS code 0802.9900, at 30 percent, effective April 1, 2023.

On February 1, 2023, the Ministry of Finance, Government of India presented its annual Union Budget to the Lok Sabha (lower parliament house) for Indian fiscal year 2023/2024 (April 1-March 31). In its Finance Bill, 2023 (No. 02/2023-Customs), the Finance Ministry announced changes in customs and central excise duty rates for various commodities, including pecans.

On February 15, 2023, the State Council Tariff Commission (SCTC) announced to extend the Section 301 retaliatory tariff exclusion period for sorbitol and other select U.S. commodities to September 15, 2023.

China remained the world's largest seafood producer in 2022, with production expected to reach 67.5 million metric tons (MMT), up from the 66.9 MMT in 2021. Production growth continues to be driven by aquaculture which is expected to increase 1.2 percent year-on-year to reach 54.6 MMT in 2022.

On February 3, 2023, China notified a new national standard to the World Trade Organization (WTO) restricting excessive packaging for edible agricultural products (G/TBT/N/CHN/1715). The deadline for comment submission is April 4, 2023.

On February 13, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) State Council published the 2023 “No. 1 Document,” providing broad guidance for resource allocation and development goals in China’s agricultural sector. Food security remains a top focus with priority given to boosting production of grains and oilseeds and various policies to support farmer income and improvements in rural China.

In 2022, the total value of all U.S. agricultural and related products exported to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) reached a record $40.9 billion, an increase of 14.5 percent compared to the previous year.

As the PRC dismantles it’s zero-COVID policy measures, there is great optimism about the economy and, particularly, the HRI sector. Stakeholders expect a rebound in travel to fuel recovery in hotels, restaurants, and other outlets.