UNITED KINGDOM, March 24, 2004 -- Tim Bennett, a farmer from Wales, has been elected as President of the National Farmers' Union following the retirement of Sir Ben Gill.

EUROPEAN UNION, March 24, 2004 -- An EU annual tariff rate quota for 11,500 MT of high quality beef is available to exporters of U.S. and Canadian high-quality beef. The in-quota tariff rate is 20 pct. This product brief compiles information for users of the quota.

INDIA, March 24, 2004 -- *US Envoy pulls out stops at food show*, *Grapes of hazard invite wrath*, *FICCI favors unit-based cap on farm subsidies*, *Traders begin limited wheat buy for exports*.

EUROPEAN UNION, March 24, 2004 -- To ensure that plant protection products containing micro-organisms are evaluated in a uniform way for efficacy and risks to human health and the environment, the EU is in the process of discussing a proposal on the principles for evaluation and authorization of these micro-organisms.

AUSTRIA, March 24, 2004 -- This newsletter provides an update on upcoming market promotions, including the Austrian and Central European Media Mission for U.S. Organics and USA Wine Festivals. Find an overview of recent market trends, trade policy issues, and commodity analyses for the countries of Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, and Slovakia.

SLOVAKIA, March 24, 2004 -- In 2002, Slovakia's fruit production dropped by 803 MT (-1 %) to 80,405 MT compared to the previous year. 63.6 % of total fruit trees are apple trees, 10.7 % plum trees, 4.5 % cherry trees and 4 % walnut trees. Consumption of fruits and fruit products decreased by 5.5 kg (-9.7 %) to 51.3 kg per capita in 2001 (the last year of available data). In 2002, the Slovak Republic imported 168,451 MT of fresh fruit and exported 14,712 MT. For processed fruits, the Slovak Republic imported 31,169 MT and exported 9,823 MT.

AUSTRIA, March 24, 2004 -- Austria has opted for early decoupling of farm subsidies from production and will apply the 'full' approach to crops while maintaining an aid/output link for the beef sector. The new system will be implemented on January 1, 2005. A recent study conducted by the Austrian Federal Institute of Agricultural Economics cites a decrease of total gross margins for Austrian average farms from 0.7 % to 3.6 % after implementation of Austria's CAP reform measures.

BOSNIA-HERCEGOVINA, March 24, 2004 -- The Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Council of Ministers unilaterally suspended implementation of the Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro FTAs for several agricultural products until April 1, 2004. It is not known whether the suspension will be lifted or prolonged. Based on these FTAs, the Government is now focusing on bilateral veterinary protocols that will include lists of foreign facilities approved for export between the countries. Increased support to agricultural producers was also expected but hasn't occurred due to limited budgets.

SLOVAKIA, March 24, 2004 -- According to the Ministry of Economy (MoE), the dynamic economic growth of Slovakia's food industry will slow down during the next decade. The slow down will be due to sugar and dairy production quotas in the EU. The MoE also expects increased concentration in the food-processing sector due to massive foreign investment. The EU accession should result in increased food consumption in general.

HUNGARY, March 24, 2004 -- The Government of Hungary is providing extra subsidies to the swine sector to correct market shortfalls and prepare for EU Accession when the sector will no longer be subsidized. Other EU-acceding countries, such as Czech Republic and Poland, are doing likewise. Analysts expect a drop in Hungary's pork production and export numbers in upcoming years.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION, March 24, 2004 -- A sharp increase in consumer spending helped pushed the Russian retail food market to $56 billion in 2002, up 22 percent over 2001. Increasing consumer demand for more variety, better quality, and greater convenience is creating opportunities for a wide range of U.S. food products. In addition, favorable changes in Euro/Dollar and Ruble/Dollar exchange rates are making U.S. products more price-competitive. Among the best prospects are: meat and poultry products, private label canned/packaged foods, fresh fruit, dried fruit, nuts, fish and seafood (fresh/frozen/canned), wine, confectionary/snack foods, microwave and other convenience foods.

MEXICO, March 24, 2004 -- On March 8, 2004, the Government of Mexico announced a partial lifting of the ban on poultry products it had imposed on imports from the United States, allowing imports of mechanically separated poultry from chicken and turkey and de-boned turkey thigh for thermal processing from 39 U.S. states. A few days later, the Government allowed imports of poultry meat for border areas, baby chicks, baby turkeys and hatching eggs.

UNITED KINGDOM, March 24, 2004 -- On March 18, 2004 five cases of bovine brucellosis were confirmed in an English beef herd. This is the first case of the disease to be identified in England since an October 1993 outbreak linked to imports of cattle from France. That said, there were two cases confirmed in Scotland in February of last year which were found to be linked to imported animals from the Republic of Ireland.