Regulatory Updates

Distribution date: 20 January 2014

Proposal for the establishment of the maximum residue limit (MRL) for an agricultural chemical (Pendimethaline). Commodity Proposed MRL (mg/kg) Current MRL (ppm) Hay 15 0.1 Note: Hay includes hay and fodder (dry), straw, forage (green) and silage. The MRL is set as 90% dry matter base.

Products Covered: Straw and forage of cereal grains and grasses, legume forage (alfalfa, clover, etc.) and other forage products (HS Codes: 12.13, 12.14) for feed

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 17 January 2014 | Final date for Comment: 29 March 2014

Health Canada's Food Directorate completed a detailed safety assessment of a food additive submission seeking approval for the use of steviol glycosides as a sweetener in meal replacement bars. Steviol glycosides are already permitted for use in Canada as a sweetener in various unstandardized foods. As no safety concerns were raised through this assessment, the Department has enabled the food additive use described in the information document by updating the List of Permitted Sweeteners, effective 14 January 2014. The purpose of this communication is to publically announce the Department's decision in this regard and to provide the appropriate contact information for any inquiries or for those wishing to submit any new scientific information relevant to the safety of this food additive. Health Canada's Food Directorate is committed to reviewing any new scientific information on the safety in use of any food additive, including steviol glycosides. Anyone wishing to submit new scientific information on the use of this additive or to submit any inquiries may do so in writing, by regular mail or electronically.

Products Covered: Steviol glycosides (ICS Codes: 67.220, 67.230)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 17 January 2014 | Final date for Comment: 29 March 2014

Health Canada's Food Directorate completed a detailed safety assessment of a food additive submission seeking approval for the use of steviol glycosides as a sweetener in meal replacement bars. Steviol glycosides are already permitted for use in Canada as a sweetener in various unstandardized foods. As no safety concerns were raised through this assessment, the Department has enabled the food additive use described in the information document by updating the List of Permitted Sweeteners, effective 14 January 2014. The purpose of this communication is to publically announce the Department's decision in this regard and to provide the appropriate contact information for any inquiries or for those wishing to submit any new scientific information relevant to the safety of this food additive. Health Canada's Food Directorate is committed to reviewing any new scientific information on the safety in use of any food additive, including steviol glycosides. Anyone wishing to submit new scientific information on the use of this additive or to submit any inquiries may do so in writing, by regular mail or electronically.

Products Covered: Steviol glycosides (ICS Codes: 67.220, 67.230)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 17 January 2014

<span style="font-size:x-small;font-face:Verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing:-0.1pt;font-family:'Verdana','sans-serif';font-size:9pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:'Times New Roman';mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA;">Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Order "On Amendments to the list of products subject to compulsory certification in Ukraine" of 06.11.2013 No<br />1308 amends the Order of the State Committee of Ukraine for Technical Regulation and Consumer Policy of 01.02.2005 No 28 approving the List of products subject to compulsory certification in Ukraine.</span></span>

Products Covered: UKTZED 8517, 3604, 9018, 8701-8708, 8711-8712, 8716, 8721.

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 17 January 2014

<span style="font-size:x-small;font-face:Verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing:-0.1pt;font-family:'Verdana','sans-serif';font-size:9pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:'Times New Roman';mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA;">Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Order "On Amendments to the list of products subject to compulsory certification in Ukraine" of 06.11.2013 No<br />1308 amends the Order of the State Committee of Ukraine for Technical Regulation and Consumer Policy of 01.02.2005 No 28 approving the List of products subject to compulsory certification in Ukraine.</span></span>

Products Covered: UKTZED 8517, 3604, 9018, 8701-8708, 8711-8712, 8716, 8721.

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 16 January 2014

The Russian Federation notified the letter of the State Sanitary Inspector in G/SPS/N/RUS/35 (as of 11 October 2013). This letter introduced a temporary restriction on import of milk and milk products from Lithuania to the Russian Federation due to detection of incompliance to microbiology, sanitary chemical and organoleptic requirements. In December 2013 Lithuania provided additional information on application of additional measures for securing microbiological requirements, strengthening of production control, elimination of detected labeling deviations. Thus this measure was withdrawn with regard to import of milk products from Pieno Zvaigzdes, Lithuania.

Products Covered:

Regulation Type: Addendum to Emergency Notification (SPS)

Distribution date: 16 January 2014

The Russian Federation notified the letter of the State Sanitary Inspector in G/SPS/N/RUS/35 (as of 11 October 2013). This letter introduced a temporary restriction on import of milk and milk products from Lithuania to the Russian Federation due to detection of incompliance to microbiology, sanitary chemical and organoleptic requirements. In December 2013 Lithuania provided additional information on application of additional measures for securing microbiological requirements, strengthening of production control, elimination of detected labeling deviations. Thus this measure was withdrawn with regard to import of milk products from Pieno Zvaigzdes, Lithuania.

Products Covered:

Regulation Type: Addendum to Emergency Notification (SPS)

Distribution date: 16 January 2014 | Final date for Comment: 17 March 2014

This technical regulation contains definition for preserved grape leaves, requirements (physical, chemical, microbiological, radiological, sampling, methods of examination and test, packaging, transportation, storage and labelling).

Products Covered: Preserved grape leaf (ICS Code: 67.080)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 16 January 2014 | Final date for Comment: 17 March 2014

This technical regulation contains definition for preserved grape leaves, requirements (physical, chemical, microbiological, radiological, sampling, methods of examination and test, packaging, transportation, storage and labelling).

Products Covered: Preserved grape leaf (ICS Code: 67.080)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 15 January 2014 | Final date for Comment: 08 February 2014

<span style="font-face:Verdana;font-size:x-small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family:'Verdana', 'sans-serif';font-size:9pt;">Draft Technical Regulation establishing the analytical methods to be used by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA) Laboratories or by a</span><span style="font-size:x-small;"><span style="font-size:9pt;"> third party </span><span style="font-size:x-small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:9pt;">for the fertilizers and agricultural nutrients compound evaluation, verification and assurance of conformity in order to <span style="letter-spacing:-0.1pt;">adjust </span><span style="color:black;"><span style="background:white;color:black;">the relative acidity or alkalinity of the soil as well as to verify the chemical contaminants.</span></span></span></span></span></span>

Products Covered: FERTILIZERS (HS code(s): 31)

Regulation Type: Regular notification