PAKISSAN.com; FAS Daily Attache Report Digest

CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF, November 1, 2004 -- This is an UNOFFICIAL translation of the Implementation Measures of 2005 TRQ Allocation for Grains and Cotton issued by the National Development and Reform Commission on September 30, 2004. Exporters should carefully discuss regulations and their application with Chinese importers to ensure their interpretation of the regulation is accurate.

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Weekly Rice Price Update

THAILAND, November 1, 2004 -- Exports prices reached another record high due mainly to a psychological effect from the new government intervention program.

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Food Processing Industry - Spain

SPAIN, November 1, 2004 -- Spain's food processing industry will continue to be one of the largest, most dynamic in the European Union, and a very substantial importer of food ingredients. FAS/Madrid forecasts that processing industry production value will reach 68 billion Euros in 2005, up from 62,1 billion Euros in calendar year (CY) 2003. During CY 2005, Spanish consumers will likely spend 80 billion Euros on food, up from 69.4 billion in 2003. We expect continued yearly increases in demand for ready-to-eat products, seafood, food ingredients, etc. through 2005.

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Annual for Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the UAE (Updated)

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, November 1, 2004 -- In 2003, U.S. food and agricultural exports to the Gulf Cooperation Council-5 countries totaled $449 million, a record that will be challenged in 2004 despite bans on U.S. beef and poultry - two consumer product categories that contributed $74 million to the record sales figure recorded in 2003. The UAE and Kuwait remain the largest markets for U.S. food products, accounting for 60 and 30 percent of sales, respectively. Consumer ready products account for 60 percent of U.S. food and agricultural product exports to these countries. The GCC unified custom tariff sets a 5-percent duty on most processed foods and a zero duty on fresh produce, live animals, staple commodities and seeds for planting.

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November Update

UKRAINE, November 1, 2004 -- Ukraine will likely decrease imports of raw cane sugar in MY 2004/2005 as a result of reduced export opportunities for products that contain sugar and sugar confectionary.

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French President Announces Framework Law on Biotech Crops

FRANCE, November 1, 2004 -- The French President officially announced that the government plans to shortly present a biotech legislation to the Parliament. This bill will not only be the transposition into national law of the EU Directive 2001/18, but it will also include provisions on biotech and non-biotech coexistence and a proposal to create a new French biotech committee to assess biotech products at the national level in France.

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Annual

NEW ZEALAND, November 1, 2004 -- New Zealand's milk production in 2004/05 is forecast at 15.45 million tons, an increase of 3 percent over the previous season. Whole milk powder exports in 2004/05 are forecast to rise 3.3 percent to 711,000 tons, while skim milk powder, cheese and butter exports are expected to remain at year earlier levels. New Zealand dairy farmers are now engaged in a serious debate over the future capital structure of Fonterra.

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