On October 29, 2019, the European Commission published the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 of 22 October 2019 on the temporary increase of official controls and emergency measures governing the entry into the Union of certain goods from certain third countries implementing Regulations (EU) 2017/625 and (EC) 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Regulations (EC) No 669/2009, (EU) No 884/2014, (EU) No 2015/175, (EU) No 2017/186 and (EU) 2018/1660.

The European Union notified the World Trade Organization of the Draft Commission Delegated Regulation supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rules for the cases where and the conditions under which identity checks and physical checks on certain goods may be performed at control points, and documentary checks may be performed at distance from border control posts.

During the last Standing Committee of the Section ‘Novel Food and Toxicological Safety of the Food Chain’, held on September 26, 2019, the draft on maximum levels for perchlorate was voted.

According to the European Federation of the Trade in Dried Fruit & Edible Nuts, Processed Fruit & Vegetables, Processed Fishery products, Spices, Honey (FRUCOM), the European Commission is discussing potential changes to the cadmium levels for different food commodities, including tree nuts and peanuts.

The report of the Standing Committee of the Section ‘Phytopharmaceuticals’, held on September 26-27, 2019, has been published.

The European Commission published the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1690 of 9 October 2019 renewing the approval of the active substance alpha-cypermethrin, as a candidate for substitution, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market, and amending the Annex to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011.

The European Commission published the Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/1791 and the Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/1792 amending Annexes to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels of active substances in or on certain products.

On October 17, 2019, the EU and the UK reached a new agreement at negotiator level on a revised Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland and a revised Political Declaration on the framework of the future EU-UK relationship.

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 of 18 December 2018 will enter into force on December 14, 2019.

On October 17, 2019, China and Mauritius signed a free trade agreement (FTA) that will cover trade in goods and services, and investment and economic cooperation.