JAPAN, July 13, 2004 -- Japan invited foreign Embassies to comment on establishment of maximum residue limits for an insecticide, ethiprole, designation of calcium stearate, and withdrawal of madder color from the list of food additives. The deadline for comments is July 21, 2004. This proposal will be submitted to the WTO for a further opportunity for comments.

CROATIA, July 13, 2004 -- This report provides information on the food import rules for Croatia. It includes information on labeling, packaging, food additives, and import procedures. Important points of contact for U.S. food exporters are listed in the appendices.

MEXICO, July 13, 2004 -- On July 7, 2004, the Secretariat of Economy published in the Diario Oficial (Federal Register) that it needed additional information to continue working on the review of the U.S. imported Red and Golden Delicious apple compensatory duty. Parties will have 28 working days to provide further information to the Mexican Government.

PORTUGAL, July 13, 2004 -- Portugal's tomato production reached 1.01 million tons in MY 03/04, a two percent improvement over last year's poor crop; about 84 percent of this amount was sold for processing. The output of 159,467 tons would have been even higher, but high temperatures during the summer harvest period destroyed around 100,000 tons of fresh tomatoes for processing. Total exports in MY 03/04 are expected to increase by two percent to around 120,000 tons.