During the last Standing Committee of the Section ‘Novel Food and Toxicological Safety of the Food Chain’, held on September 26, 2019, the draft on maximum levels for perchlorate was voted.

According to the European Federation of the Trade in Dried Fruit & Edible Nuts, Processed Fruit & Vegetables, Processed Fishery products, Spices, Honey (FRUCOM), the European Commission is discussing potential changes to the cadmium levels for different food commodities, including tree nuts and peanuts.

The report of the Standing Committee of the Section ‘Phytopharmaceuticals’, held on September 26-27, 2019, has been published.

The European Commission published the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1690 of 9 October 2019 renewing the approval of the active substance alpha-cypermethrin, as a candidate for substitution, 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 INC Nut and Dried Fruit Pavilion was present again from October 5 to 9 at Anuga, the world’s largest trade fair for food and beverages, held every two years in Cologne (Germany).

The  INC sponsored the symposium “Nuts & Health: New Insights into Diabetes, Obesity and Gut Microbiota” at the 13th European Nutrition Conference, in Dublin, Ireland, October 15-18, 2019.

The Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency notified the World Trade Organization of the draft Resolution Number 707, 13 September 2019, regarding the nutrition labeling for packaged foods.

The Australian Macadamia Society has shared the National Residue Survey on Macadamias.

The National Service of Agri-Food Health and Quality of Argentina (SENASA) notified the World Trade Organization of the phytosanitary requirements for the importation of hazelnut trees (Corylus avellana) from Chile.

In September and October, the INC Executive Committee visited Brussels for a series of meetings with the European Commission, namely the Directorate General for Trade (DG TRADE), Directorate General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) and Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI).