International borders are gradually reopening as lockdown and curfew measures have been globally de-escalating. Furthermore, some countries nearly eliminated restrictions, despite certain new waves of infections in China, New Zealand and Germany.

The INC is pleased to announce the publication of the 2019/2020 Annual Report. The report provides an overview of the past year including information on the INC activities, health and dissemination, marketing and communication plans including the dissemination campaign, and technical projects. 

On April 30, 2020, some members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) notified the ‘Multi-party interim appeal arbitration arrangement’ (MPIA) to the WTO. 

On May 7, 2020, the European Commission published the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/625 of 6 May 2020, amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 on the temporary increase of official controls and emergency measures governing the entry into the European Union of certain goods from certain third countries, implementing Regulations (EU) 2017/625 and (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/943 and Commission Implementing Decision 2014/88/EU.

Vietnam reduced Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariff rates on certain agricultural products.

On May 29, 2020, the European Commission (EC) published the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/714, which prolongs the period of application of the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/466 until 1 August 2020.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has received several initial filings of pesticide petitions requesting the establishment or modification of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various commodities.

On May 13, 2020, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published the scientific opinion on risk assessment of ochratoxin A in food.

On May 4, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced increased availability of credit guarantees for US agricultural products sales under the Commodity Credit Corporation’s Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102).

The Municipal Affairs Bureau of the Government of the Special Administrative Region of Macao notified the World Trade Organization of the Administrative Regulation No. 11/2020 Maximum residue limits of pesticides in foodstuffs.