EU Bromide MRL in Brazil Nuts: Call for Feedback
The EU’s maximum residue level (MRL) for bromide in Amazonia (Brazil) nuts is currently set at 50 mg/kg. There are industry concerns that the established limit may be too low, as the natural occurrence of bromide in the soil and/or water in the Amazon rainforest could contribute to bromide levels in Brazil nuts exceeding the […]
EU Nickel ML in Pecans: Members Encouraged to Contact Their National Ministries
There has been no further progress on the proposed increase in the EU nickel ML for pecans since the INC’s previous update. INC members are encouraged to engage with their national ministries to voice their concerns and highlight the importance of this issue and its impact on trade.
EU Proposed Changes for Ochratoxin A ML and Sampling Methodology
In a presentation given at a FRUCOM event in October, the Directorate-General for Health & Food Safety mentioned a proposal to establish an ML of 5 µg/kg for ochratoxin A (OTA) in non-sulfured dried apricots, up from the current limit of 2 µg/kg. It was further noted that the Commission is discussing a proposal to […]
USDA Moves California Almond Marketing Order Toward New Seasonal Credit Authority
The Agricultural Marketing Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a proposed rule and referendum order on October 8, 2026, that would amend Marketing Order No. 981 for California almonds. The amendment would authorize the Almond Board of California (ABC) to borrow from a commercial lending institution through a seasonal line of credit. […]
Codex Advances Work on Ochratoxin A and Acrylamide Codes of Practice
The INC participated in the 19th Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food (CCCF19), which took place in Cairo, Egypt, on October 19-23, 2026. The Committee endorsed work on two initiatives in which the INC participated in the electronic working groups (EWGs) over the past year. In 2025, the Committee established an EWG […]
EU and Viet Nam Call for Full Implementation of Their Free Trade Agreement
EU and Vietnamese leaders met in Brussels on October 22 and called for full implementation of the EU–Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement and swift ratification of the Investment Protection Agreement. European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen held talks with Viet Nam’s General Secretary and President Tô Lâm. The […]
EU Updates Q&A Document on Rules of Origin and Customs Rules Under EU-US Trade Regulation
The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD) has updated its Q&A document covering the rules of origin and customs rules for US goods imported into the EU. Among other matters, this update clarifies that sanitary and phytosanitary certificates and cultivation declarations are not, on their own, considered evidence or proof of […]
Indonesia Faces Possible Tariff Gap as EU Trade Preferences End
On January 1, 2027, Indonesia will lose its preferential access under the EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP), a status it has held since 1995, because it has been classed as an upper-middle-income country for three consecutive years. Without GSP beneficiary country status, many of Indonesia’s exports to the EU would face standard most favored […]
Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement Faces Ratification Hurdle as Opposition Moves to Block Legislation
The Australian Government urged the opposition Coalition to support legislation implementing the Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement on October 19, 2026, according to SBS. The Coalition’s treasury spokesperson, Tim Wilson, said it would oppose the bill. The two sides concluded the agreement in March after eight years of negotiations, but Australia’s parliament has not yet […]
India and US Say Trade Deal Is “Weeks, Not Months” Away
US President Donald Trump said on October 20 that the United States and India are “pretty close” to a bilateral trade agreement, which will be “a much different kind of deal” from those the US has signed with other partners, according to the Indian Express. The day before, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the […]