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Jurisdictions covered

The following 11 jurisdictions are covered in this report:

Argentina; Australia; Brazil; Canada; Chile; China; India; Malaysia; Mexico; Netherlands; United States.

Questions

The set of questions relating to the topic of agribusiness and answered by the guide for each jurisdiction covered include:

Overview

• • What is the regulatory environment for meat and poultry?
• • What is the regulatory environment for all other human food?
• • What are the main non-governmental organisations and non-profit organisations in the agribusiness sector in your jurisdiction?

Land acquisition and use

• • Identify and summarise the enacted legislation addressing agricultural property transactions in your jurisdiction. Outline how farmland is typically held.
• • Outline any rules related to use of farmland for non-agricultural uses.
• • How is lending secured by farmland addressed in your jurisdiction? Do special rules apply for farm lending?
• • What special rules are important to agricultural lending in your jurisdiction?
• • Describe any rules relating to public control of farm property in your jurisdiction. What enacted legislation governs them?
• • Are there any restrictions on foreign ownership of farm property in your jurisdiction? What enacted legislation governs them?

Government programmes

• • Does the government provide agriculture support programmes to producers, processors or agriculture-related businesses and organisations? Outline the programmes and how they are generally accessed.
• • Are there any programmes addressing assistance or government incentives for investment by foreign ownership in agribusiness?

Food safety, certification programmes, animal safety and disease

• • List the main applicable enacted legislation for primary processors of live animals.
• • Describe food safety regulations for meat and poultry products, and all other food products in your jurisdiction.
• • What enforcement can take place in relation to food safety? What penalties may apply?
• • Describe any certification programmes and regulations for genetically modified foods and organic foods.
• • What are the food labelling requirements, including the applicable enacted legislation, enforcement and penalties?
• • List the main applicable enacted legislation regarding health of food animals, including transportation and disease outbreak and management.
• • What are the restrictions on the movement of animals within your country?
• • Where would one find the regulations related to livestock slaughtering?
• • Outline the regulatory regime for pesticides in your jurisdiction.

Business organisation

• • How are agricultural operations typically organised in your jurisdiction?
• • Outline any restrictions on foreign ownership of agricultural operations or businesses other than farming operations.

Agricultural workers, immigration, and health and safety

• • Describe any specific rules or laws governing the rights of workers or employees for agricultural operations.
• • How is farmworker immigration regulated in your jurisdiction?
• • Outline the health and safety regulations relating to farmworkers in your jurisdiction.

International trade

• • Describe the regulatory environment for animal product imports.
• • Describe the regulatory environment for all other food imports.
• • May tariffs, quotas or similar measures be put in place?
• • What treaties apply to the import and export of agricultural products in your jurisdiction?

Intellectual property

• • How are plant breeders’ property rights protected in your jurisdiction?
• • How is farmers’ access to crop varieties and plant technologies addressed in your jurisdiction?
• • What other intellectual property considerations apply to agribusiness in your jurisdiction?

Environmental issues

• • Describe the regulatory agencies that have a role in managing the environmental impact of agricultural production in your jurisdiction.
• • Describe how water and air pollution is regulated in relation to primary agriculture in your jurisdiction.
• • Describe how liquid and other waste is regulated in relation to primary agriculture in your jurisdiction.