Sustainability Update: January 2024
EU: Council Adopts Negotiating Position on Sustainable Packaging Rules On December 18, 2023, the Council reached an agreement (“general approach”) on a proposal for a regulation on packaging and packaging waste. The proposal requires that all packaging be recyclable and that the presence of substances of concern be minimized. It also sets labelling requirements, sets […]
Red Sea Attacks Disrupt Global Supply Chains
Shipping companies re-route vessels and impose surcharges After a spike in attacks on commercial vessels, shipping firms are facing a difficult decision: they can send their ships through the Red Sea, risking attacks by Houthi rebels and inviting significantly higher insurance premiums, or re-route them around the Cape of Good Hope, adding 10 days to […]
EU and US Reach Deal to Extend Pause on Tariff Dispute
The tariff suspension will remain in force until the end of March 2025 Under an agreement announced on December 19, 2023, the European Union and the United States will extend the suspension of tariffs until March 31, 2025 in the context of a longstanding steel and aluminum dispute. The dispute dates back to 2018, when […]
INC Launches New Online Statistics Database
700,000 statistical records at your fingertips The INC is pleased to announce the launch of its new online statistics database. Exclusive to INC members, this is the most comprehensive statistics database in the nut and dried fruit industry. With a sleek look and feel, the new database is faster, more intuitive, and features new data […]
European Parliament Adopts Position on Packaging and Packaging Waste Legislation
The text includes some exemptions from reuse obligations On November 22, 2023, the European Parliament adopted its position on new EU-wide rules on packaging and packaging waste. Under the Parliament-approved text, packaging that is in direct contact with food would be exempt from reuse obligations. The revamped text will become the Parliament’s mandate for negotiations […]
Food Safety Update: November 2023
FAO/WHO: Recommended Threshold Values for Food Allergens The report on the fifth meeting of the ad hoc FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Allergens was recently published. The report establishes maximum safe limits for Brazil nuts, macadamias and pine nuts, among other food products. More information EU: Commission Expected to Renew Approval of Glyphosate for […]
Latest Trade News and Agreements: November 2023
China-Serbia: Free Trade Agreement China and Serbia signed a free trade agreement on October 17, 2023. In order for the agreement to enter into force, the two sides must now complete their respective domestic procedures. More information China: Update on Peanut Exporting Facility Registration Process A recent USDA GAIN report provided an update on […]
Marketing Standards and Labeling: November 2023
EU: Marketing Standards Published in Official Gazette On November 3, 2023, the Official Journal of the European Union published Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2429 of 17 August 2023 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 as regards marketing standards for the fruit and vegetables sector, certain processed fruit and vegetable products and the bananas sector. This regulation […]
Sustainability Update: November 2023
FAO: State of Food and Agriculture 2023 The Food and Agriculture Organization recently published its annual flagship report, the State of Food and Agriculture. This year’s edition introduces the concept of hidden costs and benefits of agrifood systems and proposes a framework through which these can be assessed: true cost accounting (TCA). The report aims […]
INC Attends 36th European Trade Meeting in Hamburg
The theme of the meeting was “Paths to Sustainability” The INC attended the 36th European Trade Meeting, organized by the Waren-Verein der Hamburger Börse e.V., on November 17, 2023, in Hamburg, Germany. The meeting, which focused on the theme of “Paths to Sustainability,” brought together around 100 participants representing companies and organizations in the nut […]