Codex Alimentarius: General Standard for Food Additives, Update
The Codex Alimentarius Commission has included its 2021 provisions in the Codex General Standards for Food Additives. This database is regularly updated and provides all the provisions for food additives that have been adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Nuts and dried fruits are among the products covered.
WHO: Global Strategy for Food Safety 2022-2030
The World Health Organization´s (WHO) Global Strategy for Food Safety 2022-2030 was adopted by Member States at the 75th Session of the World Health Assembly.
Strategic priorities:
- Strengthening national food control systems.
- Identifying and responding to food safety challenges resulting from global changes and food systems transformation.
- Improving the use of food chain information, scientific evidence and risk assessment in making risk management decisions.
- Strengthening stakeholder engagement and risk communication.
- Promoting food safety as an essential component in domestic, regional and international food trade.
EU: Discussions on Extension of Glyphosate
Glyphosate is currently approved for use in the EU until December 15, 2022. On October 14, the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed did not reach a decision on an extension of the current approval of glyphosate by one year. According to The Glyphosate Renewal Group, the Commission already mentioned they would proceed to appeal.
EU: Planting of Walnuts Originating in Moldova
The European Commission published the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1916 of October 7, 2022, amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as regards certain plants for planting of Juglans regia L. originating in Moldova.
On the basis of the scientific opinion of the European Food Safety Authority, up to two-year-old bare-rooted, dormant, free of leaves, grafted plants for planting and rootstocks of Juglans regia L. originating in Moldova should no longer be considered high-risk plants.
The Regulation entered into force in October 10, 2022.
China: National Food Safety Standards, Update
The People’s Republic of China, National Health Commission (NHC) released an updated Catalogue of National Food Safety Standards. The catalogue, sourced from the Department of Food Safety Standards and Monitoring and Evaluation, includes 1,455 national standards, covering an array of topics: from mycotoxins to pesticides and labeling, among many others.
USA: Walnut Crop Insurance Provision
This rule by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), amends walnut crop insurance regulations to remove the minimum acreage insurability requirement. This change is expected to align the insurability requirements for walnut crop insurance with other tree nut insurance policies.
It is effective since October 31, 2022. The deadline for comments is December 27, 2022. The FCIC may consider the comments received and may conduct additional rulemaking based on the comments.