EGYPT, July 15, 2004 -- Egypt's total wheat purchases for MY 2003-04 (July-June) increased by approximately 18 percent compared to MY 2002-2003. U.S. market share in MY 2003-04 also increased to 55 percent of total Egyptian imports, compared to 34 percent during MY 2002-03.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION, July 15, 2004 -- Russian imports of meat fell dramatically in the first quarter of 2004 due to poor implementation of TRQs on beef and pork and a quota on poultry meat. Import volumes and values fell by almost 50 percent for every major meat category. Total Russian imports of meat in Q1 2004 were almost $250 million less than the same period in 2003.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION, July 15, 2004 -- Hot weather in Siberia, expected harvest losses in European Russia, wheat winterkill, and price uncertainty will restrict total 2004 grain output. Additionally, oilseed production is relatively more profitable in the current year, and some farmers have switched to sunflowerseeds, pulling grain planted area down.

HONG KONG, July 15, 2004 -- This report provides background information on Hong Kong's regulations on Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs). Hong Kong does not have its own MRLs. It makes reference to MRLs and EMRLs for pesticides recommended by Codex in its monitoring program.

ITALY, July 15, 2004 -- This report responds to a questionnaire circulated by FAS Horticultural and Tropical Products Division in May 2004, and gives details on Maximum Residues Llimits for pesticides in foodstuffs. It supplements EU reporting (E23045).

CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF, July 15, 2004 -- Four months after declaring that avian influenza had been stamped-out, on February 7, 2004, China's General Administration of Quality Supervision Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) announced confirmation of a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1 strain) in a flock of chickens on a small-scale farm in Anhui Province. Though not mentioned in the official announcement, China notified this bird flu outbreak, for the first time, to the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE). Chinese authorities destroyed all birds within a 3-km radius and immunized all birds within a 5-km radius of the original outbreak. Following is an unofficial translation of the announcement.

ISRAEL, July 15, 2004 -- October 2003 thru May, 2004 saw a 17 percent increase in soybean imports compared to the same period in the previous year (from 399 tmt to 467 tmt). The U.S. market share for soybeans deceased by 83.6 percent for the same period of time (from 62.9 percent to 34.3 percent). The U.S. market share has decreased as a result of the increase in the Argentinean and Brazilian market share. This pattern is not expected to change in MY 2004, and the U.S. market share for soybean will stand at 35-40 percent. Israel imports of oil meals in MY 2003 (from October 2003 thru May, 2004) increased by 151 percent compared to the same period in the previous year.

CZECH REPUBLIC, July 15, 2004 -- In June 2004, the Czech government approved its ten-year agricultural strategy for 2004 to 2013. The strategy foresees a continued restructuring of the farm sector with grain and oilseeds production increasing; pig and poultry production contracting; and possible increases in milk production. Farms are expected to grow in size and be mostly cooperatives or corporations. The number of family farms will not increase. A strategy for the food industry will be drafted by the Food Industry Chamber and is not included in this plan.

CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF, July 15, 2004 -- Shanghai recently hosted an international conference on the development of modern food retail in China and its impact on food distribution and marketing. This heavily oversubscribed event was a tremendous success, and will likely lead to a followup conference. Policy recommendations were offered in support of strengthening links between farmers and the retail sector.