• World Dairy Summit coverage, part 2

• Pre-WDS events highlight women in dairy and more

• Egypt temporarily exempts certain dairy from customs tax

• USDEC in Rome for World Food Security meeting

• USDA allocates funding to export promotion

• Harden speaks at World Food Prize event

• Jiangnan University student new product competition results 

• Market Summary: Chinese dairy imports continue to struggle 

• NZ milk volume falls, solids rise 

• Download the latest International Demand Analysis 

• Ireland leaves dairy exit scheme out of 2024 budget 

• IP attorneys get lesson in GIs 

• USDEC submits comments on trade barriers 

• Nestlé to close Irish formula plant 

• Company news briefs: Vinamilk, Nestlé, Villa Dolce 

 

Sustainability, trade and more at the IDF World Dairy Summit 2023
Speakers at last week’s International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit 2023 (IDF WDS 2023) covered subjects ranging from dairy farming and processing around the world to international trade to capitalizing on dairy’s nutritional deliverables. But one topic permeated nearly all the sessions: sustainability.

Speakers at panel after panel focused or touched on the sustainability challenges facing the global dairy sector and how dairy can be part of the solution to sustainably nourishing the world. U.S. and foreign dairy farmers and processors highlighted a range of projects aimed at bolstering dairy’s sustainability credentials, including California Dairies Inc. Chair Simon Vander Woude, who summarized the company’s solar energy and methane digestion investments, and Hilmar Cheese Co. President and CEO David Ahlem, who outlined the company’s vast efforts to reduce and reuse water. In terms of what the sustainability challenge means to dairy, the experts’ comments echoed the theme of the summit, “Boundless Potential, Endless Possibilities.”

Several speakers emphasized that in every challenge, there is opportunity—and cited some prerequisites to realizing those opportunities, including the need to:

• Do a much better job telling the dairy sustainability story. “There is huge opportunity for consumers to drink and eat more dairy,” said Vander Woude, during the plenary session, “Dairy Farming Around the World: Today’s Focus, Tomorrow’s Vision.” “As we build our sustainability story, we can become the planet-friendly food choice.”
  
  
• Understand that a one-size-fits-all approach to sustainability does not align with the broad diversity of dairy production systems around the world—or even in any single country. “There are solutions for every part of this globe. The solutions on my farm don't look the same as solutions to California. They don't look the same as solutions in Kenya or India,” said U.S. dairy farmer and Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) Chair Marilyn Hershey in the plenary session, “Dairy’s Contribution to Evolving Food Systems.” “But we have to be able to equip farmers across the globe with the solutions that they need to be able to continue sustainably farming.”
  
  
• Collaborate—not just on the fiscal necessities but on all aspects of sustainable production, technology, strategies, implementation and data. “As an industry, we will continue to be measured against the standard of our lowest performers, so we need to increase our standards globally if we are to attain a leadership position,” said Miles Hurrell, CEO, Fonterra Co-operative Group, at the plenary session, “Global Leaders Forum.”
  
  
• Ensure that farmers are centrally involved in setting climate change policy.
  
  
• Measure, verify and report how can we facilitate the flow of sustainability information and data throughout the value chain. Any dairy environmental, animal welfare or other claims made must be backed by real data to maximize their effectiveness.
  
  
• Resolve how to pay for the hefty investments that will be needed to advance dairy sustainability.

As the world seeks solutions to the climate challenge, “it's so important that we as farmers are part of those conversations,” said Marilyn Hershey, U.S. dairy farmer and chair of Dairy Management Inc. “And I think for a long time, we weren't at the table.”

Joanna Shipp (left), dairy farmer and chair of the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board, moderated a session on dairy farming around the world featuring (left to right) Eduardo Schwerter, president of the Pan-American Dairy Federation; Steen Norgaard Madsen, chair of the Danish Dairy Board; Margaret Munene, CEO of Kenya’s Palmhouse Dairies; and Simon Vander Woude, chair of California Dairies Inc.

As Jeffrey Simmons, president and CEO of Elanco Animal Health, noted in the dairy environmental impact panel moderated by USDEC President and CEO Krysta Harden, dairy can be a key to resolving the dual challenge of climate change and global food security: “The cow is the ‘how.’ We can change the narrative in our industry in a big way, while creating another level of economic opportunity.”

Call to action
The official IDF WDS 2023 statement concludes with a call to action for governments, global organizations and the world’s food and beverage sectors to “Be Dairy.”

“A nine-point plan lays out a robust roadmap for policymakers and organizations on how to meet and support the dairy sector’s level of critical contribution and ambition to an ever brighter tomorrow,” said Shawna Morris, co-chair of the summit and USDEC executive vice president, Trade Policy and Global Affairs, during opening remarks at the summit.

Among those priorities, the importance of trade is underscored. The plan urges entities to “recognize the role of trade and the international rules-based system that underpins it and promote the development and adoption of science-based international standards and guidelines that support the trade of dairy products.”

Anti-trade rhetoric for many years now has been strong, as USDEC's Jaime Castaneda noted at the panel discussion, “International Dairy Trade: Views on Top Trouble Spots and Ways Forward.”

“The question we have today is ‘Why does trade have a bad connotation around the world?’” Castaneda asked. “Trade gives us access to so many different opportunities. But at the end of the day, it is easy to blame someone or something else for the failure of countries’ own economic policies—for economic despair. Trade is a convenient scapegoat.”

We need to make sure we tell the positive story of dairy trade, Castaneda said. He pointed to Canilec President Ricardo Villavicencio’s presentation earlier in the summit. Most Mexican dairy producers in the 1990s were uncertain about or openly against opening trade with the U.S. through the North American Free Trade Agreement. But that deal was a win-win for the dairy industries in both countries, helping fuel domestic dairy consumption, drive demand and grow both Mexican farmers and processors and U.S. dairy suppliers.

The IDF statement encourages recognition of those benefits and collaboration to make sure trade keeps delivering.

Said Morris: “The statement was designed to reinforce the importance of working together and empowering the next generation of leaders within the global dairy sector to maximize dairy’s boundless commitment and endless ambition to sustainably nourishing people and communities and to making a positive difference in the world.”

For previous coverage of IDS WDS 2023, see Global Dairy eBrief, 10/20/23 as well as the U.S. Dairy Exporter Blog post, “USDEC at the IDF World Dairy Summit in Chicago.”

The Honorable Tim Groser (right), former New Zealand Ambassador to the U.S. and former New Zealand Minister of Trade and Climate Change, cautioned that international trade rules that shaped the post-World War II world are eroding and, without a change in course, could have dangerous ramifications for the global dairy industry. “A world of chaos existed without those rules and that’s where it’s going if we don’t hold the line,” he said. Groser spoke at the panel session, “International Dairy Trade: Views on Top Trouble Spots and Ways Forward,” along with (left to right) Pier Maria Saccani, director, Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP Consortium; Alexander Anton, secretary general, European Dairy Association; Jaime Castaneda, USDEC executive vice president, Policy Development and Strategy; and Matt Kovac, CEO, Food Industry Asia.

USDEC President and CEO Krysta Harden offers her perspective on IDF WDS 2023 from the show floor in this 1-minute video. The event, she says, plays an important role as a forum to bring people from around the world together to share dairy knowledge and perspectives in service of driving dairy growth.

IDF WDS 2023 co-chairs Nick Gardner and Shawna Morris (center) pass the key to representatives from next year’s World Dairy Summit host, France.

Pre-WDS happenings: Harden speaks at Women in Dairy roundtable; Morris elected to IDF committee
Prior to the official sessions and networking events at the official IDF WDS 2023, USDEC staff participated in the IDF General Assembly and a series of IDF business meetings. USDEC President and CEO Krysta Harden, IDF WDS 2023 Co-Chairs Shawna Morris and Nick Gardner, and several USDEC staff members took part in the events. Here are a couple highlights:

• USDEC President and CEO Krysta Harden served as the keynote speaker at a Women in Dairy Roundtable discussion on how technology and innovation can help women in the dairy sector.
  
  
• U.S. dairy farmers Joanna Shipp, chair of the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board, and Marilyn Hershey, chair of DMI, presided over a Farmers Roundtable.
  
  
• During the IDF General Assembly, Shawna Morris, USDEC executive vice president, Trade Policy and Global Affairs, was elected to the IDF Science & Program Coordination Committee as representing the Dairy Policies & Economics Standing Committee (of which she was already a member).

USDEC President and CEO Krysta Harden addressing attendees at the Women in Dairy Roundtable on Oct. 15, prior to the opening of IDF WDS 2023.

Egypt temporarily exempts imports of certain dairy products from customs tax
Beginning Oct. 11, 2023, Egypt is temporarily exempting imports of several products, including certain dairy products, from tariffs for a six-month period. The dairy product categories receiving this temporary tariff exemption are liquid milk and cream (0401), powdered or otherwise concentrated milk and cream (0402), butter and other fats and oils derived from milk as well as dairy spreads in packages of a weight less than 10 kg (0405.1010, 0405.2010 and 0405.9010), and fresh (unripened or uncured) cheese, including whey cheese and curd (0406.10). Additional information on Egypt’s tariff schedule can be found in Volume 1 of the USDEC Export Guide.

USDEC impacts international gender equality and trade policy development at UN meetings
As part of USDEC’s ongoing efforts to advocate for the vital roles of U.S. dairy foods and international trade in providing a sustainable source of nutrition for a growing global population, USDEC vice president of Sustainable Nutrition, Janice Giddens, attended the 51st plenary session of the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS 51) meetings in Rome last week. Mary Kraft, U.S. dairy farmer and Global Dairy Platform (GDP) ambassador, also attended to provide a strong farmer voice, which is often missing from global food systems policy discussions.

The CFS is an important UN-affiliated forum that addresses nutrition, food security and sustainable food systems. As a member of the Private Sector Mechanism (PSM) delegation, Giddens continued USDEC’s extensive work to help shape global policy guidance that can impact regulations at the national level, and proactively work to prevent potential market access barriers for U.S. dairy exports.

The event was an opportunity to bolster USDEC’s ongoing work to inform guidance that directly shapes agricultural and global food systems policy and could otherwise constrain exports, as governments in major markets often use the policy guidance that emerges from these meetings in national legislation. During the plenary, Giddens took the floor and addressed inequalities in agricultural trade that often result in women trading in less profitable commodities and earning less for their work overall, while noting there are still many barriers that need to be addressed to improve women’s equality in agrifood systems.

Left to right: Mary Kraft, U.S. dairy farmer and GDP Global Dairy Ambassador, and Janice Giddens, USDEC vice president, Sustainable Nutrition, at FAO offices in Rome for the UN Committee on World Food Security meetings.

Advocating for gender equality
A highlight of the meetings was the approval of CFS voluntary guidelines, “Gender equality and women and girl’s empowerment in the context of food security and nutrition,” that capture and provide effective guidance on the multiple range of issues that affect women in agri-food systems today and hinder their effective participation.

USDEC has worked extensively to competitively position U.S. dairy’s advocacy for gender equality and international trade, due to the mischaracterization of the impacts of trade on women in UN policy documents. Giddens has long pushed back against language positioned to malign the role of international trade and hinder women’s access to markets. These efforts resulted in pro-trade language being introduced and supported by member states, and ultimately endorsed last week.

Additional sessions extend USDEC influence
Giddens and USDEC were also heavily involved with some of the side events offered to supplement the CFS 51 Plenary throughout the week.

Giddens was a featured speaker at the Oct. 24 session titled, “Empowering women farmers to effectively reduce poverty and hunger,” where she highlighted barriers and opportunities for U.S. women dairy farmers in agrifood systems. She also noted ongoing work being undertaken by the global dairy industry to support and elevate the role of women in dairy.

USDEC will continue its ongoing work to influence global discussions by contributing subject matter expertise and building its network of policymaker and thought leader allies, to promote the importance of gender equality and the role of trade in sustainable food systems, and maintain and expand market access for healthy, sustainably produced U.S. dairy products.

Panelists from the CFS 51 side session, “Empowering women farmers to effectively reduce poverty and hunger.” Left to right: Ambassador Carols Cherniak, Argentina; Janice Giddens, USDEC; Ambassador Christian Frutiger, Switzerland; Oluyemisi Iranloye, Psaltry International Co.; Robinah Najjingo, Kahawatu Foundation; and Marie Chantal Messier, Nestlé.

USDA allocates $2.3 billion to export market promotion 
USDA announced plans to devote $2.3 billion from the Commodity Credit Corp. (CCC) toward promoting better market opportunities for U.S. agricultural producers and expanding food aid to support communities in need around the world. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Ranking Member Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) requested the expanded support in August, specifically calling for $1.3 billion to establish a Regional Agricultural Trade Promotion Program and $1 billion for commodity-based international food aid.

USDEC and NMPF commended USDA in a joint news release on the announcement. The funding announcement follows calls from USDEC, NMPF and other agricultural leaders on the need for increased investment in agricultural promotion programs, particularly in the absence of new U.S. free trade agreements.

In an Oct. 25 letter to USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor, the organizations expressed appreciation for the new funding while calling on the agency to focus investments on sectors like dairy that have historically received less ample Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) allocations despite robust exports. The letter also urges USDA to consider using the new CCC authorities to procure in-kind international food assistance for Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), which includes milk powder.

USDEC and NMPF continue to advocate for a more permanent investment from Congress that would double the funding for the MAP and FMD programs. MAP and FMD have not seen a budget increase in 16 years, despite offering consistent returns on investment, USDEC and NMPF noted.

At World Food Prize event, Harden emphasizes taking care of people while also taking care of the planet
Participating in a panel discussion at the World Food Prize Foundation Borlaug Dialogue in Des Moines this week, USDEC President and CEO Krysta Harden addressed the critical question, how can we take care of people (by nourishing them with proper diets) while also taking care of the environment?

Over the years, the U.S. dairy industry has made great strides in reducing its environmental impact, producing more with fewer resources such as land and water, and actively decreasing emissions thanks to advancements in science, research, genetics and technology, Harden pointed out. But more work needs to be done.

If you believe what the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization says—that global dairy production causes less than 3% of greenhouse gas emissions—then if we were to eliminate all dairy farms worldwide, environmental issues would still persist, Harden said. How would we compensate for the essential nutrients that dairy provides?

“We have to be talking about nourishing people,” Harden said. “Dairy needs to be part of the diet and (help fuel) economies around the world.”

“We need to be working together to find those solutions,” utilizing the latest technologies and innovations that not only benefit people but also the planet, Harden added.

Click here for a 1:38 video clip of Harden’s appearance.

Dairy ingredient innovation shines at 5^th Annual JU Student New Product Competition
Last Saturday, Oct. 21, marked the final round of the 5th Annual Jiangnan University (JU) Student Competition. The student food and beverage (F&B) innovation competition is one of the components of the USDEC-JU partnership.

“The event allows us to deepen students’ knowledge and understanding of U.S. dairy ingredients’ performance in food systems, stimulate their creative potential and better prepare them for a successful career in the food and beverage industry,”  said Annie Bienvenue, USDEC vice president, Global Ingredients Technical Marketing Services.

This year's theme was “The Power of Dairy Brings Infinitive Possibilities.”

Twenty-two teams entered the contest across several product categories, including snack foods, beverages, dairy products, condiments and frozen foods. Seventeen teams passed the first review and entered the final round, which was judged on Oct. 21. Students presented their new innovative F&B concepts and offered prototypes for tasting by JU students, who were invited to attend the presentations and vote on their favorite prototypes.

A formal panel of seven seasoned judges invited from local industry, along with Chang Su, USDEC China office representative, and Lina Zhang, associate professor at JU, ranked the entries based on taste, innovation, use of the dairy ingredients and readiness for commercialization. Students also received points for the quality of their presentation and ability to answer the judges’ questions.

“The judging lasted more than five hours and we are very thankful for all the efforts that went into the competition by the students, the staff at JU and USDEC—and especially the time invested by the judges to participate and help shape the bright food-formulator minds of tomorrow,” said Bienvenue.

The prize winners are listed below. USDEC will be posting additional winning products from other categories at the USDEC website. Click here to check on those.

 

First place: “Peptides Yogurt,” contains WPC, MPC, whey permeate and milk permeate.

Second place: “Non-alcohol Milk Beer,” contains milk permeate.

Second place: “Yogurt Planet,” contains WPC, MPC and milk permeate.

Third place: “Chicken Pudding,” contains WPC, MPC and milk permeate.

Third place: “Mushroom with Dairy Magic,” contains WPC and milk permeate.

 

Economic questions, domestic production weigh on Chinese dairy imports in September
Year-over-year Chinese dairy import volume plunged 11% (-16,706 MT) in September to 134,489 MT (major products, not including fluid). It was the second monthly decline in a row and the largest since January. While China’s dairy imports typically decrease seasonally in September and October, the 134,489 MT total was the lowest since December 2021.

On a product-by-product basis, it was a repeat of August, with sharp drops in WMP (-36%, -10,698 MT), SMP (-22%, -5,577 MT) and low-protein (0404.10) whey (-11%, -7,078 MT). High domestic milk powder stockpiles and low pork prices, respectively, continue to undercut demand.

Year to date, through three quarters, Chinese SMP and low-protein whey imports are still up 9% and 14%, respectively, due to strong gains in the early part of the year. WMP imports through three quarters was down 38% (-228,855 MT).

Signs suggest that China’s powder stocks may begin to ease in the coming months. The country posted three straight months (through August) of declining year-over-year milk production. And WMP inventories, while still at historical highs (around 240,000 MT), fell in August for the first time since December 2022, even though the decline was only 11,000 MT.

Some products still rising
While milk powder and low-protein whey continue to struggle, Chinese cheese, lactose, butterfat and WPC80+ imports posted strong gains in September. Year-over-year cheese import volume increased 15% (+1,528 MT) for the month and remained up 18% (+20,980 MT) year to date.

Chinese lactose imports jumped 37% (+3,780 MT), close to its year-to-date gain of 36%. After declining in six of the first seven months, butterfat imports rose for the second consecutive month (+13%, +1,236 MT). Butterfat volume remained down (-8%, -8,681 MT) for the first three quarters.

New Zealand milk production falls but solids rise
Year-over-year New Zealand milk production fell 0.4% in September, marking the fourth straight monthly decline. Through the first four months of the 2023/24 volume is down 1%. Poor weather had been hampering pasture growth into September (and has been a factor behind questions about the strength of New Zealand’s 2023/24 production year).

On the other hand, pasture conditions have led to increased supplemental feeding, which has supported milk solids content. Year-over-year September milk solids volume rose 1.3%, lifting season-to-date volume to +0.4%.

Improvements in pasture conditions in late September/early October, particularly in the South Island, puts the country on slightly better footing for the October peak.

USDEC International Demand Analysis with August data ready for download
Year-over-year global dairy trade improved significantly from July’s 6% decline, but still remained in the red, according to the latest USDEC International Demand Analysis. Trade volume in milk solids equivalent (MSE) terms fell 1.4% in August as the 10% decline in U.S. volume more than offset smaller gains by the EU (+1.7%) and New Zealand (+2.4%).

Economic challenges continue to hamper demand, with the International Monetary Fund now projecting inflation to remain elevated in much of the world through 2024 and possibly even into 2025. For the complete analysis, download the report here.

The International Demand Analysis is packed with charts, graphs and commentary, providing members with a forward-looking glimpse at world markets from a U.S. exporter’s point of view. The report analyzes demand in the key markets for cheese, NFDM/SMP, whey (HS Code 0404.10) and WPC80+, and also includes shorter summaries for lactose, butterfat and WMP. For questions and comments, please reach out to William Loux (wloux@usdec.org) or Stephen Cain (scain@nmpf.org).

Ireland allocates zero funding toward dairy exit scheme
The Irish government did not budget for a dairy exit scheme for 2024, and Charlie McConalogue, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, said no plans are in place for such a scheme. A proposed plan would reduce the country’s dairy herd by up to 200,000 head over three years, and is part of the Irish government’s plan to meet emission reduction targets mandated by the EU (see Global Dairy eBrief, 8/18/23). McConalogue added that government is moving forward on “many other measures” that would “significantly contribute to reducing our emissions over the next year.” (Agriland, 10/19/23)

 

Educating IP attorneys on GIs and common food names
USDEC Executive Vice President, Trade Policy and Global Affairs Shawna Morris defended U.S. food and beverage processors’ rights to use generic product names this week at the Wine, Beer & Spirits Law Conference in Savannah, Georgia. Morris, in her capacity as senior director of the Consortium for Common Food Names, presented at the session, “Geographical Indications: Their Acceptance (or not) in the U.S.”

Morris spoke to help educate U.S. attorneys on the threat posed to common food and beverage names by the EU’s illegitimate use of geographical indications (GIs). She clarified U.S. support for legitimate GIs associated with specialized foods from specific regions around the world but outlined how the EU is misusing GIs to monopolize common food and beverage names. Building a greater understanding of the broad-ranging scope of the issue among those active in related law areas is helpful to the overall defense of common food names, including cheeses.

USDEC submits annual comments on trade barriers to USTR
USDEC and NMPF filed extensive comments with the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office detailing barriers to U.S. dairy trade for the National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers. The U.S. government seeks input for and publishes the report annually.

The 36-page document focuses on the highest priority issues U.S. dairy suppliers face in key markets, with an emphasis on those with which the U.S. has an opportunity to pursue changes in the years to come. Geographical indications and common names are a common thread throughout the report.

The comments also emphasize that USDEC and NMPF are “deeply concerned that the administration has chosen not to negotiate new agreements that focus on expanding export market access for American-made products.” The comments urge USTR to heighten its focus on expanding market access opportunities for U.S. dairy exports by pursuing agreements with key markets in which the United States competes head-to-head with the EU and New Zealand.

Europe remains a mainstay of the submission’s problem areas. More than six pages of comments cover the wide range of measures and practices that deter U.S. dairy exports to the EU and perpetuate the excessive U.S. dairy trade deficit with the bloc. Other sections of the comments highlight ongoing issues with key trading partners like Mexico (front-of-pack labeling, product standards revisions, conformity assessments, geographical indications, raw milk exports for pasteurization), Canada (implementation of U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement provisions, including tariff rate quota administration), China (misuse of geographical indications, tariff constraints), Colombia (facility registration, front-of-pack labeling, sodium regulations, common names), Egypt (halal certification), Saudi Arabia (dairy facility listing requirements), and Central America (plant and product registration, misuse of GIs).

In total, the comments outline trade issues with 29 countries or regions, as well as concerns related to Codex, the World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization.

Nestlé to close Irish infant formula factory
Nestlé plans to shut down its Wyeth Nutrition infant formula facility and R&D center in Askeaton, County Limerick, Ireland. The factory produces products exclusively for export to China and Asia. The sharp decline in China’s birthrate in China coupled with gains by domestically produced formula makers has undercut demand for the plant’s products. Nestlé plans to transfer production to existing factories in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China and Konolfingen, Switzerland. The company has been unable to find a buyer for the facility but said it would remain open to offers. The plant shutdown is slated for the first quarter of 2026; the R&D facility will shutter in the first quarter of 2025. (The Irish Times, 10/18/23)

Company news briefs
Vietnam’s Vinamilk signed a memorandum of understanding with Chinese “partners” to distribute Vinamilk yogurt in China. The Chinese companies—including Guangzhou Jiangnan Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market Management—will oversee imports, the distribution network, regulatory compliance and trade promotions. … After rolling out a milk, soy and fruit powered beverage in Asia last year, Nestlé launched an instant beverage powder in Central and West Africa made with a blend of milk- and plant-based ingredients. Nido Milk & Soya was developed by the company’s R&D center in Cote d’Ivoire. … Arizona-based Villa Dolce Artisan Desserts is opening a 76,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing plant in Glendale, Arizona to manufacture gelato and frozen novelties. (Company report; FoodBev.com, 10/23/23)

• Harden: We need to make sure dairy “is not just good for people, but good for the planet”
• World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogue an opportunity to highlight dairy’s contributions   
• U.S. dairy playing a big role in tackling hunger issues, Harden tells Brownfield Ag News  
• Janice Giddens speaks at UN Committee on World Food Security meeting
• USDA to fund trade promotion programs, helping to open markets for U.S. dairy products