GOJ REQUESTS SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR A LOCAL FIRM TO EXPORT

UNCLAS AMMAN 000051 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ELA AND EEB/TTP/ABT CAIRO FOR FAS AGMINCOUNS PKURZ FAS FOR OFFICE OF GLOBAL ANALYSIS FAS FOR OFFICE OF TRADE PROGRAMS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR ETRD JO SUBJECT: GOJ REQUESTS SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR A LOCAL FIRM TO EXPORT MEAT PRODUCTS TO THE U.S. ¶1. This is an action request for USDA. Please see para 5. ¶2. Post received January 2 a dipnote requesting the U.S. give favorable consideration to a petition from the Jordanian private food processing company Nabil Food to export to the U.S. "ethnic" food produced in Jordan, but containing meat from American sources. The dipnote and request were accompanied by endorsement from the Jordan Food and Drug administration (JFDA). Nabil Food, a certified supplier to local outlets of American franchises like McDonald's, Subway, and Arby's, and exporter of pasta products to the U.S., has met numerous quality assurance standards and adheres to a variety of American and international standards including International Standards Organization (ISO) 2200 on food safety and hazard analysis, European Food Safety Inspection Service (EFSIS),and CENTCOM requirements for products for U.S. forces in the region. Nabil now wants to expand its line of export products to the U.S. and at the same time play a leading role in improving local food industry standards. ¶3. Jordan is a net food importing country that acquires most of its food from abroad; 65 percent of meat products comes from outside Jordan and the prices of imported meat are often half that of locally produced items. In general, the food industry relies on foreign sources for red meat in order to remain competitive and to bypass the poor handling procedures common to slaughter houses run by the municipalities. In using imported American meat for its products, Nabil proposes adopting U.S. standards, and JFDA has offered to inspect and certify that the factory is being operated in accordance with local, international, and U.S. standards. ¶4. In February 2005, a committee from the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) of the Department of Agriculture conducted a field inspection tour of many Jordanian food facilities and submitted a Report of an Initial Equivalence Assessment, detailing the necessary improvements and upgrades required in order for Jordan to export meat products to the U.S. There has been little official progress to date. Despite the lack of improvements made by the various government entities responsible for enforcing safety requirements and meatpacking regulations, the private sector has forged ahead and is now equipped with cutting-edge technology and follows international food processing practices. ¶5. ACTION REQUEST FOR USDA: Please provide guidance on how to respond to the dipnote and outline the steps that would need to be taken in order for a single company like Nabil to receive certification to export meat products to the U.S. Visit Amman's Classified Website at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman HALE