The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has received several initial filings of pesticide petitions requesting the establishment or modification of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various commodities.

From January 1, 2020, US almonds can be exported to Morocco free of quotas and tariffs.

The Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare notified the World Trade Organization of the Revision of the Standards and Specifications for Foods and Food Additives under the Food Sanitation Act (revision of agricultural chemical residue standards).

During the next Standing Committee that will be held on February 18-19, 2020, the following drafts will be presented for an opinion:

The approval of the active substances chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifos-methyl and thiacloprid has not been renewed (see previous posts: chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifos-methyl, and thiacloprid).

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published the Reasoned Opinion on the Review of the existing maximum residue levels for cycloxydim, acequinocyl, fluxapyroxad and abamectin.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published the Reasoned Opinion on the Modification of the existing maximum residue levels for fosetyl/phosphonic acid in various crops.

The separate customs territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu notified the World Trade Organization of the Draft of Standards for Pesticide Residue Limits in Foods.

Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency has proposed new maximum residue limits (PMRL) for tetraniliprole.

On January 31, 2020, the UK ceased to be an EU Member State.