Deadline: 27-Jun-22
The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is offering grants to engage with Asia and Regional Economic Communities to Promote Alignment of Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) Standard Setting Bodies.
The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) recognizes that to ensure continued market access for U.S. agricultural exports, the U.S. Department of Agriculture must provide technical assistance to Asia officials to assist in the development and adoption of science-based and trade-facilitating policies.
This program helps partner countries in Asia’s regional economic communities, The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), to understand and adopt regulations consistent with U.S. and international standard setting bodies as well as ensure compliance with the APEC MRL Guidelines. The program is designed and organized in conjunction with U.S. universities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other U.S. Government agencies, agribusinesses, and consultants.
The USDA aims to align pesticide registration systems and MRLs standard setting across Asia, and to do so based on the U.S. regulatory system and international standard setting bodies. Alignment of registration systems and trade standards based on risk is a complex process, involving multiple regulatory agencies and technical staff across the regions, and requires a multifaceted approach involving experts from a broad array of subject matters. Aligned trade standards support exports of U.S. agricultural products to foreign markets.
Objectives
- Encourage science-based and trade facilitating policy reform in Asia based on international SPS standards and obligations.
- Improve standard operating procedures (SOPs) for inspection, sampling, and treatments at ports of entry based on risk principles and international standards.
- Build robust regulatory framework for biopesticide registration both nationally and regionally.
- Leverage active work streams in MRL registration, pesticide communication, import MRLs, and alignment of international standards for the creation of a larger, well-coordinated pesticide MRL capacity-building program in Asia.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $1,000,000
- Award Ceiling: $250,000
- Award Floor: $1
- Projected Period of Performance Start: July 14, 2022
- Projected Period of Performance End: July 13, 2024
Place of Performance: The recipient will work with countries throughout Asia. Activities could also occur within the United States.
Eligibility Criteria
- Others
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- A government of an emerging agricultural country, an intergovernmental organization, a private voluntary organization, a nonprofit agricultural organization or cooperative, a nongovernmental organization, a college or university, and any other private entity.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=340661