On April 2, 2020, Chile has notified the World Trade Organization of the availability of a system to obtain an image of all original data in the phytosanitary certificate, with the aim of contributing to the timely release of goods and ensuring that the exportation process runs as smoothly as possible.

On March 4, 2020, the Government of Argentina announced adjustments to its export tax regime on some agricultural products.

According to a USDA GAIN Report, Turkey adopted a new regulation which requires registration for exporters of tree nuts and other products to the country.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency received applications to register new uses for pesticide products containing currently registered active ingredients.

On March 9, 2020, the Ministry of Primary Industries of New Zealand published the ‘Food Notice: Maximum Residue Levels for Agricultural Compounds’.

The Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies (MIPAAF) of Italy will launch a working group on the hazelnut sector, once the current COVID-19 situation is over.

On March 30, 2020, the EU Council adopted a decision on the conclusion of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.

On March 26, 2020, the European Commission published the Final Report of an audit carried out in the United States, from 7 to 15 October 2019, in order to assess the control system in place to control aflatoxin contamination in peanuts intended for export to the European Union (EU).

The European Commission notified the World Trade Organization of the Draft Commission Implementing Regulation concerning the non-renewal of approval of the active substance fenamiphos, 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 report of the Standing Committee of the Section ‘Phytopharmaceuticals’, held on February 17-18, 2020, has been published (see previous post).