Colombia: Draft Phytosanitary Requirements for Peanut Kernels From Paraguay
Colombia has notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of a draft resolution establishing the following phytosanitary requirements for imports of peanut kernels from Paraguay:
- Phytosanitary certificate from the country of origin.
- Use of new packaging properly labeled with the botanical name of the product.
- Phytosanitary inspection at the point of entry.
- Treatment, if necessary.
The deadline for public comments is May 17, 2026.
EU: Draft Regulations on Mineral Oil Hydrocarbons (MOSH/MOAH)
Draft documents obtained by FRUCOM shed light on possible upcoming changes in EU regulations on mineral oil hydrocarbons in food. Key points of the drafts are summarized below.
- Draft Commission Regulation on maximum levels (MLs) of mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) in food:
- Draft MLs include the following:
- Groundnuts (peanuts):
- 6 mg/kg from January 1, 2027
- 4 mg/kg from January 1, 2028
- 2 mg/kg from January 1, 2029
- Tree nuts:
- 2 mg/kg from January 1, 2027
- Food lawfully placed on the market prior to the dates indicated may remain on the market until their date of minimum durability or use-by date.
- Groundnuts (peanuts):
- Draft MLs include the following:
- Draft Commission Recommendation on the monitoring of mineral oil hydrocarbons in food:
- Member States, in collaboration with food business operators, should monitor the presence of MOSH and MOAH in food during the years 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029.
- The presence of MOSH should be monitored in the following foods, among others: oilseeds, tree nuts, tree-nut-based products, tree-nut-containing products, processed fruits, and processed products containing fruits.
- The presence of MOAH should be monitored in the following foods, among others: processed fruits and processed products containing fruits.
- Where MOSH and MOAH are detected in food in concentrations above the MLs, food business operators should carry out further investigations in order to determine the possible source or sources of contamination.
- Draft Commission Implementing Regulation on the methods of sampling and analysis for the control of levels of MOSH/MOAH in foodstuffs:
- Specific procedures are set out for MOSH/MOAH to ensure that samples do not become contaminated.
- The regulation requires a reagent blank analysis to determine whether contamination originates from the laboratory process rather than the sample.
According to FRUCOM, a possible vote on these documents is scheduled for the Standing Committee meeting with Member States on May 13, 2026.
EU: Commission Launches AI Tool to Improve Food Safety
The European Commission has unveiled TraceMap, a new artificial intelligence platform designed to accelerate the detection of food fraud, contaminated food and foodborne disease outbreaks. The new tool is intended to reinforce consumer safety by innovating on how authorities assess, detect and respond to food safety risks and fraudulent activity. TraceMap is now accessible to national authorities in all EU Member States.
TraceMap will use AI to:
- Improve food safety risk assessments by streamlining access and analyzing critical data.
- Rapidly identify links between operators and consignments.
- Monitor the entire agri-food supply chain, once a risk is identified, enabling faster recalls of unsafe or fraudulent products.
USA: Proposed Extension of Inedible Disposition Obligation Deadline for California Almonds
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service has issued a proposed rule that would implement a recommendation from the Almond Board of California to extend the inedible disposition obligation deadline prescribed under the Federal marketing order for almonds grown in California from September 30 to November 30 indefinitely. The deadline for public comments is April 8, 2026.