Global Vision: Bangladesh Cancels The Fumigation Requirements For American Cotton

The visit to the United States from October 30 to November 5, 2022 by the Bangladesh Department of Agriculture delegation sponsored by the United States International Cotton Institute (CCI), together with the indispensable efforts of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service Bureau (FAS) office in Dhaka, finally persuaded the Bangladesh government to relax the fumigation requirements for nearly 50 years of American cotton imports.

This change will eliminate the major export barriers of American cotton to Bangladesh, and save time and money for Bangladesh's textile mills, which rely on the United States to meet their cotton fiber import needs. Bangladesh textile mills pay more than $1 million a year to cover unnecessary fumigation charges on cotton imported from the United States.

American exporters will continue to use the phytosanitary certificate generated by APHIS, but according to the new regulations, the certificate will have additional language to confirm that there is no living cotton boll weevil in American packaged cotton. APHIS will issue revised instructions to exporters.

After six members of the Bangladesh Ministry of Agriculture delegation participated in the US cotton trip sponsored by CCI and coordinated with the National Cotton Council (NCC), the Bangladesh Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Commerce decided to cancel the fumigation requirements. The delegation learned why there is no living cotton boll weevil in American cotton bales, including the review of the successful eradication plan of cotton boll weevil in American cotton industry and its modern cotton harvesting and standardized ginning technology.

According to the global market analysis of USDA FAS in May 2023, Bangladesh is currently the second largest cotton importer in the world. Although Bangladesh produces some cotton domestically, it accounts for 1% or less of the total demand.

Bangladesh is the top ten export markets of American cotton in 2022, with an export volume of 477.07 million US dollars.

CCI is a non-profit trade association. Through our COTTON USA ? The trademark promotes American cotton fiber and American cotton products worldwide. We have 20 offices in the world, and our business covers more than 50 countries. With more than 65 years of experience, the mission of the American International Cotton Association is to make American cotton the preferred fiber for textile mills/manufacturers, brands/retailers and consumers who want to achieve value-added, improve the profitability of the American cotton industry and promote the export growth of fibers, yarns and other American cotton products.