The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has received several initial filings of pesticide petitions requesting the establishment or modification of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various commodities.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established tolerances for residues of picoxystrobin in or on multiple commodities.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) notified the World Trade Organization of the Progress Towards Electronic Certification.

According to a USDA GAIN Report, on July 12, 2018, President Putin signed a decree extending Russia’s ban on the import of agricultural products until the end of 2019.

The Secretariat of Animal and Plant Health and Inspection of Brazil notified the World Trade Organization of the Normative Instruction (Instrução Normativa) nº 22 from 24 July of 2018.

The National Agrarian Health Service of Peru (SENASA) has notified the World Trade Organization of the Draft Directorial Resolution establishing the mandatory phytosanitary requirements governing the importation into Peru of almond tree (Prunus dulcis) cuttings originating in and coming from Spain.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) issued a proposal to amend Schedule 20 of the revised Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (August 14, 2018).

The Ministry for Primary Industries of New Zealand notified the World Trade Organization of the Addition of temporary precautionary requirements to the Import Health Standard for Sea Containers to manage the risk of brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) for consignments exported from Italy until 2020.

According to the USDA GAIN Report “Japan to Create Food Packaging Materials Positive List”, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) is revising its approach to packaging materials and is developing a positive list for materials that come into contact with foods.