On 13 December, the Government issued a decree permitting the importation of Russian wheat with immediate effect. The importation would require a number of procedures to be fulfilled, ranging from the provision of data on pest content by the Russian Federation to mitigation measures to be taken in the country, including a fumigation process in mills near the importing terminals that would reduce the risk of the transmission of plant diseases. Imports will also only be permitted to enter the country in the north and northeast regions to protect cereal producing areas in the south. Production normally accounts for about half of the domestic consumption requirements. However, imports in the current marketing year (August/July) are expected to increase following a sharp decline in the 2017 output, due to lower plantings and reduced yields. In general, Brazil imports wheat mainly from Argentina, with zero import tax as member of the Mercosur customs union, but also from the United States of America and Canada.