Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) issued a proposal to amend Schedule 20 of the revised Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (August 14, 2018).

The Ministry for Primary Industries of New Zealand notified the World Trade Organization of the Addition of temporary precautionary requirements to the Import Health Standard for Sea Containers to manage the risk of brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) for consignments exported from Italy until 2020.

According to the USDA GAIN Report “Japan to Create Food Packaging Materials Positive List”, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) is revising its approach to packaging materials and is developing a positive list for materials that come into contact with foods.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan 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).

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan notified the World Trade Organization of the Summary of the Revision of the Pesticide Registration System.

India has extended by 45 days the imposition of higher customs duties on 29 products imported from the US, including almonds and walnuts.

During the Standing Committee held on June 11, 2018, EU Member States endorsed a draft Commission Recommendation on the monitoring of acrylamide in certain foodstuffs.

The European Commission notified the World Trade Organization of two drafts concerning the non-renewal of approval of the active substance quinoxyfen and etoxazole, 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 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011.

The European Commission notified the World Trade Organization of the Draft Commission Regulation amending Annexes II, III and V to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for certain pesticides in or on certain products.

The European Commission notified the World Trade Organization of the Draft Commission Regulation amending Annexes II and V to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for iprodione in or on certain products.