As previously announced, the European Commission is discussing potential changes to the cadmium levels for different food commodities, including tree nuts and peanuts.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) launched a call for comments on Proposal M1017 – Maximum Residue Limits (2019).

On December 10, 2019, the European Commission published the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 of 28 November 2019 establishing uniform conditions for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and the Council, as regards protective measures against pests of plants, and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 690/2008 and amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) issued the Variations to Schedule 20 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (December 3, 2019).

During the last Standing Committee held on December 5-6, 2019, the following drafts were presented for an opinion:

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture has completed its pest risk analysis for Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys).

The European Commission notified the World Trade Organization of the Draft Commission Regulation (EU) amending Annexes II and V to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl in or on certain products.

On December 9, 2019, the European Commission published the Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2094 of 29 November 2019 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011 as regards the extension of the approval periods of the active substances benfluralin, dimoxystrobin, fluazinam, flutolanil, mancozeb, mecoprop-P, mepiquat, metiram, oxamyl and pyraclostrobin.

On December 12, 2019, the European Commission published a set of regulations and a directive regarding official controls which apply from December 14, 2019.

On January 1, 2020, the European Commission published the Council Regulation (EU) 2019/2197 of 19 December 2019 amending Regulation (EU) No 1387/2013 suspending the autonomous Common Customs Tariff duties on certain agricultural and industrial products.