China: Revised Measures for Supervision and Administration of Quality and Safety of Edible Agricultural Products in Markets
On July 22, 2023, the People’s Republic of China State Administration for Market Regulation released revised Measures for Supervision and Administration of Quality and Safety of Edible Agricultural Products in Markets, according to a USDA GAIN report released on September 6, 2023. Major revisions include:
- Encouragement of the prioritized purchases of edible agricultural products with commitment qualification certificate and other product quality qualification certificates.
- Strengthening training of food safety management personnel.
- Encouragement of the use of recommended national standards, industrial standards and group standards to enhance high quality development with full implementation of national food safety standards.
- Addition of settings and usage requirements for lighting in sales markets.
- Emphasis on food safety requirements for ready-to-eat products such as fresh-cut fruits and vegetables to prevent cross-contamination.
The revised Measures will enter into force on December 1, 2023.
EU: EFSA Proposes New MRLs for Pistachios
On September 15, 2023, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a reasoned opinion on the modification of the existing maximum residue levels and setting of import tolerances for mefentrifluconazole in various plant commodities, including pistachios.
EFSA assessed the application submitted by BASF Agro B.V. Arnhem (NL) Freienbach Branch and the evaluation report by the competent national authority in Austria, and concluded that the short-term and long-term intake of residues resulting from the use of mefentrifluconazole according to the reported agricultural practices is unlikely to present a risk to consumer health.
As for hazelnuts, EFSA recommended no change to the MRL set at the limit of analytical quantification (0.01 mg/kg).
EFSA proposes to amend the MRLs as follows:
Mefentrifluconazole
| Code | Commodity | Existing EU MRL (mg/kg) | Proposed EU MRL (mg/kg) | Comment/justification |
| 0120060 | Hazelnuts | 0.01* | 0.01* (no change) | An MRL amendment is not required for the intended SEU use on hazelnuts. NEU use is not supported by data. Risk for consumers unlikely. |
| 0120100 | Pistachios | 0.01* | 0.05 | The submitted data are sufficient to derive an MRL proposal for the intended SEU use. NEU use is not supported by data. Risk for consumers unlikely. |
* Indicates that the MRL is set at the limit of analytical quantification (LOQ).
EU: New MRLs for Pesticides
The European Commission published a Regulation (EU) 2023/1783 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 denatonium benzoate, diuron, etoxazole, methomyl and teflubenzuron in or on certain products, including nuts and fruits.
In addition, Regulation (EU) 2023/1753 of 11 September 2023 amends Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for pyriproxyfen.
EU: New ML for Perfluorohexane Sulfonic Acid (PFHxS)
The European Commission published its Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1608 amending Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 as regards the listing of perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related compounds. In order to reinforce the application and enforcement in the European Union of Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1021, a limit value should be set for PFHxS, its salts and PFHxS-related compounds occurring as an unintentional trace contaminant in substances, mixtures and articles. That limit value should be set at 0.025 mg/kg for PFHxS including its salts, and at 1 mg/kg for the individual PFHxS-related compounds or a combination of those compounds.
EU: Renewed Approval of the Low-Risk Active Substance Cydia pomonella Granulovirus (CpGV)
The European Commission published an Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1756 renewing the approval of the low-risk active substance Cydia pomonella granulovirus (CpGV) in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011.
UK: New Border Controls for EU Goods to Begin January 31, 2024
The UK Government has announced new border controls for goods from the EU. New sanitary and phytosanitary controls will be introduced as of January 31, 2024. These controls include health certification on imports of medium-risk animal products, plants, plant products and high-risk food (and feed) of non-animal origin from the EU.
To give stakeholders additional time to prepare for the new checks, further controls have a revised timetable. These include checks on medium-risk animal products, plants, plant products and high-risk food (and feed) of non-animal origin from the EU, implemented in April 2024, and safety and Security declarations for EU imports, implemented in October 2024.
USA: FDA Revokes Uses of Partially Hydrogenated Oils in Foods
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has amended regulations providing for the use of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) in food in light of the agency’s June 2015 final determination that PHOs are no longer generally recognized as safe (GRAS). The rule removes PHOs as an optional ingredient in the standards of identity for peanut butter.