Peanut Butter Supplementation May Improve Physical Function in Older Adults
According to a randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, daily peanut butter consumption may improve certain measures of physical function in older adults. In this trial, 120 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years or older were randomly assigned either to receive 43 grams of peanut butter per day or to maintain […]
Food Safety Update
FAO/WHO: JMPR Recommends New MRLs The 2025 Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) took place in January 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting evaluated 38 pesticides, estimating maximum residue levels, which it recommended for use as maximum residue limits (MRLs) by the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR). It also estimated levels of supervised […]
INC Tariff Report & Updates
USA: Supreme Court Strikes Down IEEPA Tariffs; Trump Announces New 15% Global Baseline Rate On February 20, 2026, the US Supreme Court struck down most of Donald Trump’s tariffs, ruling that the President’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to bypass Congressional authority was unlawful. The decision affects a wide range of […]
Codex Seeks Feedback on Possible Development of Cashew Standard
In 2025, India submitted an updated proposal to support the initiation of work on the development of a new Codex Alimentarius standard for cashew kernels. In February 2026, the Codex Secretariat issued a circular letter to solicit feedback from Codex Members and Observers on the relevance and timeliness of work on such a standard. The […]
2nd Meeting of UNECE Working Group on Dates
As noted previously, the INC is taking part in an electronic working group, convened by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), tasked with revising the UNECE Agricultural Quality Standard for Dates. The group held its second online meeting on February 2, 2026. Topics discussed included moisture content limits and the definition of the […]
Food Safety Update
EU: Turkish Pistachios and US Pistachios Shipped via Türkiye Subject to 50% Aflatoxin Checks On January 28, 2026, the European Commission published an implementing regulation concerning the temporary increase of official controls and emergency measures governing the entry into the Union of certain goods from certain third countries. Among other measures, the regulation increases aflatoxin […]
INC Tariff Report & Updates
EU: Countermeasures on US Nuts and Dried Fruits Suspended; Work on Trade Agreement to Continue On February 5, 2026, the European Commission adopted an implementing regulation extending the suspension of EU countermeasures on a wide range of US imports, including nuts and dried fruits, until August 6, 2026. Originally imposed in July 2025 in response […]
Labeling Update
EU: Council Backs Commission’s Organic Production Proposal; Public Consultation Open On January 26, 2026, the Council of the European Union met in its agriculture and fisheries configuration. Among other topics, the ministers discussed the European Commission’s proposal to update and simplify the rules on organic production. The Council welcomed the Commission’s proposal and backed plans […]
January 2026 News Brief
Watch our new monthly video series, INC News Recap Trade & Tariff Update INC Issues Global Position Statement on Tariffs to Champion Free Trade for Nuts and Dried Fruits The statement outlines the economic, environmental, health, and ethical drawbacks of tariffs, showing how they disrupt global supply chains, harm employment and small businesses, and undermine […]
INC Tariff Report & Updates
India-EU: Free Trade Deal On January 27, 2026, India and the EU concluded negotiations on a free trade agreement that will be the largest such deal ever concluded by either side. The deal will enable greater market integration between the world’s 4th and 2nd largest economies. India will gain preferential access to the EU market […]