Ecuador: Repeal of the First Revision of Technical Regulation RTE INEN No. 221, Dried Fruit and Nuts
The Republic of Ecuador has repealed in its entirety the Ecuadorian Technical Regulation RTE INEN 221 (1R) “Dried fruit and nuts", contained in Resolution No. 2020-0369 of December 2, 2020, published in the Official Gazette No. 359 of December 29, 2020. It orders the Ecuadorian Standardization Service (INEN) to withdraw the Ecuadorian Technical Regulation RTE INEN 221 (1R) "Dried fruit and nuts" from the website of that institution. It also resolves to provide the Ecuadorian Accreditation Service with a report and carry out the procedures with accredited or designated conformity assessment bodies.
It entered into force February 15, 2022.
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It entered into force February 15, 2022.
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EU: Hazelnut Plants from Serbia no Longer Considered as High-Risk
The Commission has published an implementing regulation (EU) 2022/230 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as regards plants for planting of Corylus avellana L. and Corylus colurna L., originating in Serbia.
Common hazel (Corylus avellana L.) and Turkish hazel (Corylus colurna L.) plants originating in Serbia for planting should no longer be considered high risk plants.
The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 should therefore be amended accordingly.
It entered into force on February 24, 2022.
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Common hazel (Corylus avellana L.) and Turkish hazel (Corylus colurna L.) plants originating in Serbia for planting should no longer be considered high risk plants.
The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 should therefore be amended accordingly.
It entered into force on February 24, 2022.
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EU: New Regulation on Maximum Levels of Hydrocyanic Acid
The EU notified the WTO the draft Regulation establishing maximum levels for hydrocyanic acid in linseed, almonds, cassava root and cassava flour.
Products of concern:
Products of concern:
| Foodstuffs | Maximum level (mg/kg) |
| Unprocessed whole, ground, milled, cracked, chopped almonds placed on the market for the final consumer | 35 |
| Unprocessed whole, ground, milled, cracked, chopped apricot kernels placed on the market for the final consumer | 20 |
It shall apply from January 1, 2023.
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EU: Information Note on Processing Factors
During the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCOPAFF), section Phytopharmaceuticals – Pesticides Residues of February 22-23, 2022, Member States endorsed the ‘Information note on Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 as regards processing factors and composite food and feed’. One of the findings of the Commission on its evaluation was that general provisions for processed products are already in place, but those provisions would benefit from clarification. It is, therefore, necessary to give guidance to all involved parties, in particular the competent authorities in the Member States responsible for enforcement, but also food and feed business operators (FBO), on how to deal with processed products.
The aim of the document is not to establish EU harmonized processing factors or to work towards setting of specific maximum residue levels (MRLs) for processed food and feed. The intention is to provide guidance to Member States (including Official Control Laboratories) on how to implement Article 20 provisions of Regulation (EC) 396/2005 in a harmonized way, ultimately leading to a situation by which processing factors established by one Member State could be mutually accepted by other Member States.
This document includes calculation examples for deriving MRLs by using processing factors (pf):
Derived MRL for processed product (mg/kg) = Pf x MRL of the relevant unprocessed products covered by the Annex I (mg/kg)
This document includes calculation examples for deriving MRLs by using processing factors (pf):
Derived MRL for processed product (mg/kg) = Pf x MRL of the relevant unprocessed products covered by the Annex I (mg/kg)
EU: New Regulation on Ochratoxin A
The EU notified the WTO the draft Regulation that establishes maximum levels for ochratoxin A (OTA) in dried fruit other than dried vine fruit, and pistachio nuts, and lowers the maximum level for ochratoxin A in dried vine fruit.
Products of concern:
|
Foodstuffs
|
Maximun level (mg/kg)
|
|
Dried fruit – dried vine fruit (currants, raisins and sultanas) and dried figs
|
8.0
|
|
Other dried fruit
|
2.0
|
|
Pistachios to be subjected to sorting, or other physical treatment, before placing on the market for final consumer or use as ingredient in food
|
10.0
|
|
Pistachios placed on the market for final consumer or use as ingredient in foodstuffs
|
5.0
|
Foodstuffs listed in the Annex, lawfully placed on the market before 1 January 2023, may remain on the market until their date of minimum durability or use-by date.
It shall apply from 1 January 2023.
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Finland: Most Important Contaminants in Food, Health Risks and Information Gaps
The Finnish Food Authority (Ruokavirasto) has produced a report analyzing risks of serious health effects from contaminants in food. The report states that arsenic and several mycotoxins are among the contaminants that presents greater risks.
The report aimed to identify the significant chemical contaminants covered in legislation as well as monitoring mechanisms. The substances are ranked according to their exposure classes and the risk of health damage associated with the exposure of large Finnish consumers.
Contaminants with chronic effects were classified into: compounds which are carcinogenic or toxic to reproduction and which do not have a threshold value; endocrine disrupting substances; compounds that are toxic to important organs or processes; and compounds with less serious or reversible effects.
The report aimed to identify the significant chemical contaminants covered in legislation as well as monitoring mechanisms. The substances are ranked according to their exposure classes and the risk of health damage associated with the exposure of large Finnish consumers.
Contaminants with chronic effects were classified into: compounds which are carcinogenic or toxic to reproduction and which do not have a threshold value; endocrine disrupting substances; compounds that are toxic to important organs or processes; and compounds with less serious or reversible effects.