DECREE 37 AND COCOA ISSUE DISCUSSED, APHIS AI OFFICE

UNCLAS JAKARTA 001087 SIPDIS SIPDIS AIDAC USDA DU/S LAMBERT, DU/S TERPSTRA USDA/FAS/SRITCHIE, DSMITH FAS/OA YOST, MILLER FAS/OCRA/WOOLSEY, HIGGISTON, RADLER FAS/OSTA/SISSION, SSHNITZLER, MAGINNIS FAS/OFSO/DEVER DEPT PASS TO USDA/APHIS DEPT PASS USTR/RCROWDER, OCONNER, KATZ, BURST, ENRIGHT DEPT PASS FDA GENEVA FOR MIN COUNSELOR MILLER MANILA FOR APHIS/THOMAS KUALA LUMPUR FOR AG COUNSELOR GRESSEL HANOI FOR AG ATTACHE WADE BANGKOK FOR AG COUNSELOR MEYER, APHIS/CARDENAS CANBERRA FOR AG COUNSELOR WAINIO, APHIS MANAGUA FOR AG SPECIALIST SINGAPORE FOR AG SPECIALIST HONGKONG FOR AG TRADE OFFICER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD EAGR TBIO ID SUBJECT: DECREE 37 AND COCOA ISSUE DISCUSSED, APHIS AI OFFICE OPENED REF: Jakarta 000894 Please note action requests for APHIS and FDA in paragraphs 4 and 5 ¶1. Summary. In one whirlwind day on April 16, USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Dr. Chuck Lambert SIPDIS discussed major issues facing U.S. agriculture in Indonesia and opened the APHIS Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Office. In meetings with Government of Indonesia (GOI) officials, the GOI indicated that the requested that technical meetings on Decree 37 be moved from May 18 to May 21. The GOI's Decree 37 subjects U.S. fruit to unwarranted pest mitigation measures and does not recognize pest-free areas in the United States. The GOI is willing to accept additional technical information from APHIS for its expert meeting the first week of May and requested an expert from FDA accompany the team to discuss cocoa. Regarding the additional declaration for shipments of cold-treated apples, the GOI indicated that it would be sufficient if the U.S. included language indicating that a time and temperature recording device was placed with the product when shipped. End Summary Decree 37 -------------- ¶2. In a meeting with Mr. Syukur Iwantoro, Head of the Agricultural Quarantine Board, Dr. Lambert requested that technical meetings regarding Decree 37 be held in Jakarta on May 18. However, Thursday May 17 is a national holiday in Indonesia and many will leave town for a long weekend. As an alternative, GOI suggested the following Monday, May 21. The GOI requested that the technical team meet not only with government officials, but also with their expert committee, which includes non-government members. Cocoa Issue -------------- ¶3. The GOI requested assistance in approaching FDA about exports of cocoa. The FDA detains Indonesian exports due to filth resulting from cocoa pod bore infestations. The GOI said that the USG has not provided a "transparent explanation" of the reasons behind the detentions. The need to address the problem throughout the chain was discussed, since cocoa from Sulawesi, where the pest is a problem for small growers, is mixed with cocoa from the largely pest-free plantations on Java before being shipped to the United States. Action Requests -------------- ¶4. Quarantine officials said that the internal expert meeting originally scheduled for April 3 was postponed until the first week of May. They reiterated their willingness to accept additional information from USG for consideration. Materials must be submitted before May 1. The report on temperate fruit flies submitted with Mr. Fedchock's February 8, 2007 letter was shown to the officials present. One had not seen it, so a copy was provided yet again. (see Reftel) ¶5. Dr. Lambert suggested that FDA be invited to accompany the APHIS technical team and discuss the cocoa pod bore issue following discussions on Decree 37. He said that by having both agencies represented at the meetings, a creative solution could be reached. Both sides agreed that the cocoa association and growers would benefit from discussions. Media Event -------------- ¶6. The visiting Deputy Under Secretary of Agriculture, Dr. Charles Lambert, was the center of media attention on April 16. In the morning, he spoke to Metro TV's four million viewers about the activities APHIS's Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Office, aimed at accelerating U.S. Government, and particularly USDA, efforts to help Indonesia fight the spread of avian influenza. In the afternoon, he spoke to an opening ceremony and press conference attended by Charge John A. Heffern and some 30 key media representatives about the importance of working together to control high pathogenic avian influenza. Dr. Lambert's remarks were carried by five Indonesian major newspapers, two national TVs, one cyber media outlet and two international news organizations, reaching tens of millions of people in Indonesia and throughout the world with the U.S. message that we are together in this fight, and that the U.S. is doing all it can to help combat this deadly disease. Comment -------------- ¶7. The familiar strain about the cocoa pod bore problem in Indonesian cocoa shipments to the United States was heard again in conjunction with discussions on Decree 37, further showing that the problem needs to be addressed. A united USDA and FDA approach to addressing the issue on cocoa could result in further movement on some of the issues relating to Decree 37. Movement on the cocoa pod bore issue is clearly of prime importance to GOI. Immediately following the meeting, the GOI sent a letter inviting FDA to come to Indonesia for discussions. Dr. Lambert did not have the opportunity to clear this cable. HEFFERN