FAO: Updated General Standard for Food Additives Database is Now Online
In February, Codex Alimentarius unveiled an updated version of its online General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) database. With this update, the searchable database now reflects the 2023 revision of the GSFA, which sets forth the conditions under which permitted food additives may be used in all foods.
EU: Commission Publishes First Monthly Report on EU Agri-Food Fraud Suspicions
In January, the Commission published its first Report on EU Agri-Food Fraud Suspicions. These reports, which henceforth will be published monthly, include “non-compliances with fraud suspicions” of a cross-border nature identified and shared between members of the Alert and Cooperation Network (ACN) and retrieved from its three components: the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed network (RASFF), the Administrative Assistance and Cooperation network (AAC) and the Agri-Food Fraud Network (FFN).
EU: Plant Protection Product Update
The European Union notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of a draft Commission Implementing Regulation renewing the approval of the active substance metconazole as a candidate for substitution, given that metconazole is considered a persistent and toxic substance.
The EU also notified the WTO of a draft Commission Implementing Regulation withdrawing the approval of the active substance acibenzolar-S-methyl.
In March, the Commission published Implementing Regulations renewing the approval of hydrolyzed proteins, urea and trinexapac, as well as an Implementing Regulation approving magnesium hydroxide E528.
UK: Increased Official Controls on Imports of Non-Animal Products
The government of the United Kingdom has published the Official Controls (Import of High-Risk Food and Feed of Non-Animal Origin) (Amendment of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793) Regulations 2024. These regulations seek to control high-risk food and food not of animal origin imported into Great Britain. The changes are summarized in the table below:
| Country of origin | Product | Hazard | Frequency of physical and identity checks |
| Argentina | Peanuts and some derived products | Aflatoxins | 10% |
| Bolivia | Peanuts and some derived products | Aflatoxins | 50% |
| Brazil | Peanuts and some derived products | Pesticide residues | 20% |
| Brazil nuts and some derived products | Aflatoxins | 50% | |
| China | Peanuts and some derived products | Aflatoxins | 10% |
| Egypt | Peanuts and some derived products | Aflatoxins | 20% |
| The Gambia | Peanuts and some derived products | Aflatoxins | 50% |
| Georgia | Hazelnuts and some derived products | Aflatoxins | 20% |
| Ghana | Peanuts and some derived products | Aflatoxins | 50% |
| India | Peanuts and some derived products | Aflatoxins | 50% |
| Iran | Pistachios and some derived products | Aflatoxins | 50% |
| Madagascar | Peanuts and some derived products | Aflatoxins | 50% |
| Senegal | Peanuts and some derived products | Aflatoxins | 50% |
| Sudan | Peanuts and some derived products | Aflatoxins | 50% |
| Türkiye | Dried figs and some derived products | Aflatoxins | 20% |
| Pistachios and some derived products | Aflatoxins | 50% | |
| United States | Peanuts and some derived products | Aflatoxins | 10% |
| Uzbekistan | Dried apricots | Sulfites | 50% |
For more information, see the regulations for England, Wales and Scotland.
USA: Public Meeting Sponsored by U.S. Codex Office
The U.S. Codex Office is sponsoring a public meeting on March 21, 2024. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft US positions to be discussed at the 17th Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF17). Agenda items to be discussed at the meeting include the definition of ready-to-eat peanuts for the establishment of a maximum level for total aflatoxins in this product.
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