Distribution date: 17 February 2023 | Final date for Comment: 18 April 2023

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has conducted a review of the Food Regulations and proposes to include new microbiological standards for non-ready-to-eat (RTE) food in a new Part 3 of the Eleventh Schedule. “Non-ready-to-eat food” means any food which is not defined as “ready-to-eat food”[1] under the Food Regulations. [1]Ready-to-eat food”, as defined under Regulation 35(2) of the Food Regulations,means any article of food that is made available for sale for direct human consumption without the need for cooking or any other form of processing to eliminate, or reduce to a microbiological standard specified in the Eleventh Schedule, any pathogenic or other micro-organism of concern in the article of food; andincludes cup noodles, fruit juice cordial, squash or syrup, powdered beverages and other concentrated food which are meant to be reconstituted or diluted with fluids before consumption.

Products Covered: Non-ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and meat products: 02011000, 02012000, 02013000, 02021000, 02022000, 02023000, 02031100, 02031200, 02031900, 02032100, 02032200, 02032900, 02041000, 02042100, 02042200, 02042300, 02043000, 02044100, 02044200, 02044300, 02045000, 02050000, 02061000, 02062100, 02062200, 02062900, 02063000, 02064100, 02064900, 02068000, 02069000, 02071100, 02071200, 02071300, 02071410, 02071420, 02071430, 02071499, 02072400, 02072500, 02072600, 02072710, 02072799, 02074100, 02074200, 02074300, 02074400, 02074500, 02075100, 02075200, 02075300, 02075400, 02075500, 02076000, 02081000, 02085000, 02089010, 02089090, 02091000, 02099000, 02101100, 02101200, 02101930, 02101990, 02102000, 02109300, 02109910, 02109990, 05040000, 15011000, 15019000, 15021000, 15029010, 16010010, 16010090, 16022000, 16023110, 16023199, 16023290, 16023900, 16024110, 16024190, 16024210, 16024290, 16024991, 16024999, 16025000, 16029090; Non-RTE eggs and egg products: 04072100, 04072910, 04072990, 04079010, 04079020, 04079090, 04081100, 04081900, 04089100, 04089900, 21069099, 35021100, 35021900; Non-RTE oysters and blood-cockles: 03071110, 03071120, 03071200, 03077110, 03077120, 03077200

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 15 February 2023 | Final date for Comment: 16 April 2023

 These measures result from the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 (‘the Regulations’), as they apply in England and Wales, and regulate how water systems are designed, installed and operated. The Regulations require water fittings to be an appropriate quality and standard and suitable for the circumstances in which they are used. To meet these requirements, Regulator Specifications can be approved to provide detailed performance characteristics to ensure, amongst other things, that a fitting will not cause contamination of the water supply thereby protecting human health. These measures amend the Regulator Specifications that relate to: the design and performance of Water Closet suites and their components; backflow prevention arrangements and their classifications; and, relevant testing requirements. The amendments, to prevent water from a Water Closet cistern backflowing into a clean drinking water supply, will: introduce a new backflow prevention arrangement for Water Closets; and, apply appropriate testing requirements.Regulator Specifications are relevant to the compliance of certain water fittings in Scotland with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) (Scotland) Byelaws 2014 and in Northern Ireland with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009.

Products Covered: Products related to Water Closet (WC) Suites:Water Closet suites (flushing cisterns and pans etc.);Components for Water Closet Suites (inlet valves, flushing devices, cisterns etc.);Backflow prevention arrangements and devices for water systems. HS Code:Plastics: tubes, pipes, fittings etc. (HS 3917); Plastics: lavatory pans, flushing cisterns etc. (HS 3922.90); Ceramic Products: water closet pans, flushing cisterns etc. (HS 6910.10; HS 6910.90); Iron or steel products: sanitary ware (HS 7324.29; HS 7324.90);  Copper: tubes and fittings (HS 7403; HS 7411; HS 7412). ICS Code:Sanitary installations (ICS 91.140.70); Water supply systems (ICS 91.140.60); Fluid systems (ICS 23.040).

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 14 February 2023

This retrospective notification advises that the Sunscreen (Product Safety Standard) Bill 2021 was finalized in March 2022, giving effect to proposals as notified in G/TBT/N/NZL/108. This document signaled our intention to set a mandatory product safety standard for all sunscreen products in trade in New Zealand, to be enforced under section 29 of the Fair Trading Act 1986. The Bill entered into force in September 2022. Minor changes were made to the proposals of the consultation document, as follows:1.    The standard referenced in the Act now refers to AS/NZS 2604:2012 instead of AS/NZS 2604:2021 to better align with international standards.2.    S(b)(ii) now says ‘a product that is represented as skin care’, to reflect the language used to define skincare in the AS/NZS 2604:2021. This change was made to reduce confusion and minimize costs as both standards would otherwise need to be purchased for compliance purposes.

Products Covered: HS 3304 99 Beauty or make-up preparations and preparations for the care of the skin (other than medicaments), incl. sunscreen or suntan preparations (excl. medicaments, lip and eye make-up preparations, manicure or pedicure preparations and make-up or skin care powders, incl. baby powders).

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 10 February 2023

The Resolution – RDC number 594, 28 December 2021 - previously notified through G/TBT/N/BRA/1296 - which establishes requirements for grouping implantable materials  in orthopedics for market authorization purposes and other provisions, was rectified.   The rectified text is available only in Portuguese and can be downloaded at:  https://www.in.gov.br/en/web/dou/-/retificacao-462939518

Products Covered: HS (3006)

Regulation Type: Corrigendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 10 February 2023 | Final date for Comment: 11 April 2023

This draft National technical regulation stipulates the limits of technical characteristics and requirements for management of products and goods of building material listed in Table 1, Part 2, belonging to Group 2 according to the provisions of the Law on Product Quality, Goods (hereinafter referred to as products, goods of building materials) produced domestically, imported, traded, circulated on the market and used in construction works in the territory of Viet Nam.This draft National technical regulation does not regulate products and goods of building materials imported in the form of test samples, sample goods, goods displayed at exhibitions and fairs; goods temporarily imported for re-export, goods that are not consumed and used in Viet Nam, goods in transitThis draft technical regulation applies to Vietnamese and foreign organizations and individuals manufacture, import, trade and use products and goods of construction materials; testing and certification organizations that assess and certify the conformity of construction materials, products and goods to technical regulation; and relevant state management agencies on the quality of construction materials and products.This  draft National technical regulation is intended to supersede QCVN 16:2019/BXD.

Products Covered: I Cement, admixture for cement and concrete1.    Portland cement (HS: 2523.29.90)2.    Portland Blend cement (HS: 2523.29.90)3.    Sulphate resistant portland cement (HS: 2523.29.90)4.    Blast furnace slag (HS: 2618.00.00)5.    Fly ash active admixture for concrete, mortar and cement (HS: 2621.90.00)II Construction Aggregates6.    Crushed sand for concrete and mortar (HS: 2517.10.00)7.    Natural sand for concrete and mortar (HS: 2505.10.00)III Tiling materials8.    Ceramic Tiles (HS: 6907.21.91; 6907.21.93; 6907.22.91; 6907.22.93; 6907.23.91; 6907.23.93; 6907.21.92; 6907.22.92; 6907.23.92; 6907.21.94; 6907.22.94; 6907.23.94)9.    Natural paving stones (HS: 2506.10.00; 2506.20.00; 2514.00.00; 2515.12.20; 2515.20.00; 2516.20.20; 2516.12.20; 6802.21.00; 6802.23.00; 6802.29.10; 6802.29.90; 6802.91.10; 6802.91.90; 6802.92.00; 6802.93.10; 6802.93.00)10.  Artificial paving stones based on organic binders (HS: 6810.19.90; 6810.19.10)11.  Self-inserting concrete bricks (HS: 6810.19.10)IV Wall Materials12.  Fired clay brick (HS: 6904.10.00)13.  Concrete bricks (HS: 6810.11.00)14.  Autoclaved aerated concrete products (HS: 6810.99.00)15.  Wall Panels (HS: 6810.91.00)V Roofing materials16.  Asbestos-cement corrugated sheets (HS: 6811.40.10)17.  fired clay tiles (HS: 6905.10.00)18.  Glazed ceramic roof tiles (HS: 6905.10.00)19.  Concrete Tiles (HS: 6811.82.20)VI Building glass1.    1. Float glass (HS: 7005.29.90)2.    2. Patterned laminated glass (HS: 7005.29.90)3.    3. Safety tempered flat glass (HS: 7007.19.90)4.    4. Laminated glass and laminated safety glass (HS: 7007.29.90)5.    5. Insulated sealed box glass (HS: 7008.00.00)6.    6. Heat-absorbing tinted glass (HS: 7005.21.90)7.    7. Reflective coated glass (HS: 7005.21.90)8.    8. Low Radiation Coated Glass (Low E) (HS: 7005.21.90)VII Sanitary equipment9.    Wash basins (HS: 7324.90.10; 6910.10.00)10.  Wall- hung urinals (HS: 7324.90.10; 6910.10.00)11.  Bidets (HS: 7324.90.10; 6910.10.00)12.  WC pans (HS: 7324.90.10; 6910.10.00)VIII Decorative and Finishing Materials13.  Wallconvering in roll form - Finished wallpaper, wall vinyl  and plastics wallcoverings (HS: 4814.90.00; 4814.20.10; 4814.20.91; 4814.20.99)14.  Wall emulsion paints (HS: 3209.10.90)15.  Gypsum board and Fiber-reinforced gypsum panel (HS: 6809.11.00; 6809.19.90)16.  Wood- based panels (HS: 4411.12.00; 4411.13.00; 4411.14.00; 4411.92.00; 4411.93.00; 4411.94.00; 4410.11.00; 4418.99.00)IX Water supply and drainage pipe products17.  PVC pipes and fittings (couplings) for water supply and drainage systems under pressure (HS: 3917.23.00; 3917.40.00)18.  PE pipes and fittings (couplings) for water supply and drainage systems under pressure (HS: 3917.21.00; 3917.40.00; 3917.32.99; 3917.33.90)19.  PP pipes and fittings (couplings) for water supply and drainage systems under pressure (HS: 3917.22.00; 3917.40.00)20.  Pipes and fittings (couplings) of glass fiber reinforced thermosetting plastics (GRP) on an unsaturated polyester resin basis (UP) (HS: 3917.29.25; 3917.40.00)21.  Ductile iron pipes and fittings (couplings) of ductile iron for water conduit works (HS: 7303.00.11; 7307.19.00; 7303.00.19)X Other products and goods of construction materials22.  Asbestos for the production of asbestos-cement corrugated board (HS: 2524.90.00)23.  Aluminum profiles and aluminum alloys (HS: 7610.90.99; 7604.29.90)24.  Cable ladder system and cable tray made of iron or steel used in electrical installation of the building (HS: 7308.90.60; 7326.90.99)25.  Pipes and fittings (couplings) for the protection and installation of conductors electricity in the house (HS: 3917.21.00; 3917.22.00; 3917.23.00; 3917.40.00)26.  Waterproofing sheet based on modified bitumen (HS: 6807.10.00)27.  Water blocking tape PVC (HS: 3919.90.99)28.  Structural silicone Sealants (HS: 3910.00.90)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 09 February 2023 | Final date for Comment: 10 April 2023

The draft provides for the addition of the Chapter II of the Single List of Goods, subject to sanitary-and-epidemiologic supervision (control) on the customs border and customs area of the Eurasian Economic Union approved by the Decision of the Commission of the Customs Union dated 28 May, 2010 No. 299 with products «facilities and products for oral hygiene».

Products Covered: Oral hygiene products 

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 08 February 2023 | Final date for Comment: 09 April 2023

With a view to enhancing the quality of petroleum products, the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) is proposing to adopt the updated version of CNS as inspection standards.  The proposed changes are made for purpose of enhancing consistent management. The conformity assessment procedures remain the same, i.e. Monitoring Inspection (MI) or Monitoring Inspection of Products from Premises with Registered Management System (MS-Based Monitoring Inspection).

Products Covered: MINERAL FUELS, MINERAL OILS AND PRODUCTS OF THEIR DISTILLATION; BITUMINOUS SUBSTANCES; MINERAL WAXES (HS code(s): 27); ORGANIC CHEMICALS (HS code(s): 29)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 07 February 2023

There is a correction to notification G/SPS/N/EU/612, dated 30 January 2023:A mistake has occurred during the publication phase in all languages of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/174 amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793.On page 44, Article 1, the text of point (1) is replaced as follows:‘(1) Article 14 is replaced by the following:“Article 14Transitional periodConsignments of groundnuts and products produced from groundnuts from Bolivia, curry leaves (Bergera/Murrava koenigii) from India, turnips (Brassica rapa ssp. rapa) from Lebanon, Sesamum seeds from Nigeria, vanilla extract from the United States and okra from Vietnam, which have been dispatched from the country of origin, or from another third country if that country is different from the country of origin, before the date of entry into force of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/174 (*), may enter the Union until 16 April 2023 without being accompanied by the results of sampling and analyses and the official certificate provided for in Articles 10 and 11.(*) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/174 of 26 January 2023 Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 on the temporary increase of official controls and emergency measures governing the entry into the Union of certain goods from certain third countries implementing Regulations (EU) 2017/625 and (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 25, 27.1.2023, p. 36).";'

Products Covered: Multiple commodities

Regulation Type: Corrigendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 03 February 2023

The aim of this addendum is to inform WTO Members that the Draft Uganda Standard; DUS 2378:2021, Standard Specification for Engine Coolant Grade Glycol, First Edition; notified in G/TBT/N/UGA/1458 entered into force on 12 December 2022. The Uganda Standard, US 2378: 2022, Standard Specification for Engine Coolant Grade Glycol, First Edition, can be purchased online through the link: https://webstore.unbs.go.ug/

Products Covered: Engine Coolant

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 03 February 2023

The aim of this addendum is to inform WTO Members that the Draft Uganda Standard; DUS 2296-4: 2021, Skin applied mosquito repellents — Specification — Part 4: Bathing soaps, First Edition; notified in G/TBT/N/UGA/1383 and G/TBT/N/UGA/1383/Add.1 entered into force on 12 December 2022. The Uganda Standard, US 2296-4: 2022, Skin applied mosquito repellents — Specification — Part 4: Bathing soaps, First Edition, can be purchased online through the link: https://webstore.unbs.go.ug/

Products Covered: Mosquito repellents

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification