Regulatory Updates

Distribution date: 18 August 2004

Purpose; Scope of application; Definitions; General conditions for panela cane sugar; Physico-chemical requirements; Prohibitions; Production of panela cane sugar from unrefined molasses; Sanitary conditions of sugar mills and storage facilities for unrefined molasses; Packing, packaging, labelling, repackaging, storage, distribution, transport and marketing; Exportation of panela cane sugar, sanitary registration and surveillance; Inspection, monitoring, control, safety measures and penalties; Conformity assessment and certification; Notification and Period of validity.

Products Covered: Panela - unrefined brown cane sugar (tariff subheading 1701.11.10.00)

Regulation Type: Emergency notifications (SPS)

Distribution date: 11 August 2004

Objeto; Campo de aplicación; Definiciones; Condiciones generales de la panela; Requisitos: fisicoquímicos; Prohibiciones; Producción de panela a partir de mieles vírgenes; Condiciones sanitarias de los trapiches y de las centrales de acopio de mieles vírgenes; Envase, embalaje, rotulado, reempaque, almacenamiento, distribución, transporte y comercialización; Exportación de panela, registro sanitario y vigilancia sanitaria; Inspección, vigilancia, control, medidas de seguridad y sanciones; Certificado y evaluación de la conformidad; Notificación y Vigencia.

Products Covered: Panela - unrefined brown cane sugar (1701.11.10.00)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 11 August 2004

Objeto; Campo de aplicación; Definiciones; Condiciones generales de la panela; Requisitos: fisicoquímicos; Prohibiciones; Producción de panela a partir de mieles vírgenes; Condiciones sanitarias de los trapiches y de las centrales de acopio de mieles vírgenes; Envase, embalaje, rotulado, reempaque, almacenamiento, distribución, transporte y comercialización; Exportación de panela, registro sanitario y vigilancia sanitaria; Inspección, vigilancia, control, medidas de seguridad y sanciones; Certificado y evaluación de la conformidad; Notificación y Vigencia.

Products Covered: Panela - unrefined brown cane sugar (1701.11.10.00)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 10 August 2004

In order to protect the consumer from dangers of consuming food contaminated with drugs and drug residues, the Ministry of Health Malaysia has been enforcing the ban of the following prohibited drugs in food intended for human consumption since 16 January 1998: Beta-agonists, Nitrofurans and Chloramphenicol. All imported carcass, meat and edible offal of cattle, pigs, sheep, goat, poultry and their products and fish and fishery products intended for human consumption must be accompanied by a Health Certificate from the competent authority stating the absence of the prohibited drugs and drug residues as follows: Beta-agonists in the carcass, meat and edible offal of cattle, pigs, sheep, goat and their products Nitrofurans in the carcass, meat and edible offal of poultry and their products, and fish and fishery products Chloramphenicol in the carcass, meat and edible offal of poultry and their products, and fish and fishery products

Products Covered: The carcass, meat and edible offal of cattle, pigs, sheep, goat, poultry and their products, and fish and fishery products intended for human consumption.

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 10 August 2004

In order to protect the consumer from dangers of consuming food contaminated with drugs and drug residues, the Ministry of Health Malaysia has been enforcing the ban of the following prohibited drugs in food intended for human consumption since 16 January 1998: Beta-agonists, Nitrofurans and Chloramphenicol. All imported carcass, meat and edible offal of cattle, pigs, sheep, goat, poultry and their products and fish and fishery products intended for human consumption must be accompanied by a Health Certificate from the competent authority stating the absence of the prohibited drugs and drug residues as follows: Beta-agonists in the carcass, meat and edible offal of cattle, pigs, sheep, goat and their products Nitrofurans in the carcass, meat and edible offal of poultry and their products, and fish and fishery products Chloramphenicol in the carcass, meat and edible offal of poultry and their products, and fish and fishery products

Products Covered: The carcass, meat and edible offal of cattle, pigs, sheep, goat, poultry and their products, and fish and fishery products intended for human consumption.

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 06 August 2004

Provision currently exists in the Food and Drug Regulations for the use of carrageenan as a gelling agent and sodium carbonate as a pH-adjusting agent in a variety of foods. Health Canada has received a submission to permit the use of carrageenan as a stabilizing agent of the water content and sodium carbonate as a pH-adjusting agent in squid meat for further processing at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice. Evaluation of available data supports the safety and effectiveness of this new use of carrageenan and sodium carbonate. Therefore, it is the intention of Health Canada to recommend that the Food and Drug Regulations be amended to permit the use of sodium carbonate as a pH-adjusting agent and carrageenan as a stabilizing agent of the water content in squid meat intended for further processing at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice. As a means to improve the responsiveness of the regulatory system, an Interim Marketing Authorization (IMA) is being issued to permit the immediate use of carrageenan and sodium carbonate, as indicated above, while the regulatory process is undertaken to formally amend the Regulations. A revision to this notification will be published at the start of the amendment process and Members will be given the opportunity at that time to submit comments on this proposed measure.

Products Covered: Carrageenan and sodium carbonate (ICS: 67.220.20)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 06 August 2004

Provision currently exists in the Food and Drug Regulations for the use of carrageenan as a gelling agent and sodium carbonate as a pH-adjusting agent in a variety of foods. Health Canada has received a submission to permit the use of carrageenan as a stabilizing agent of the water content and sodium carbonate as a pH-adjusting agent in squid meat for further processing at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice. Evaluation of available data supports the safety and effectiveness of this new use of carrageenan and sodium carbonate. Therefore, it is the intention of Health Canada to recommend that the Food and Drug Regulations be amended to permit the use of sodium carbonate as a pH-adjusting agent and carrageenan as a stabilizing agent of the water content in squid meat intended for further processing at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice. As a means to improve the responsiveness of the regulatory system, an Interim Marketing Authorization (IMA) is being issued to permit the immediate use of carrageenan and sodium carbonate, as indicated above, while the regulatory process is undertaken to formally amend the Regulations. A revision to this notification will be published at the start of the amendment process and Members will be given the opportunity at that time to submit comments on this proposed measure.

Products Covered: Carrageenan and sodium carbonate (ICS: 67.220.20)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 04 August 2004

This Application seeks to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) to align maximum residue limits (MRLs) for the antibiotic avilamycin in pig commodities so that they are consistent with other national regulations relating to the safe and effective use of agricultural and veterinary chemicals. In administrative terms and consistent with international practice, MRLs assist in regulating the use of agricultural and veterinary chemical products. MRLs indicate whether agricultural and veterinary chemical products have been used in accordance with the registered conditions of use. MRLs in the Code also act to protect public health and public safety by ensuring that chemical residues are no higher than necessary, and act as international trading standards. The MRLs prescribed in the Code constitute a mandatory requirement applying to all food products of a particular class, whether produced domestically or imported. Food products with a residue that exceeds the relevant MRL set out in the Code cannot legally be supplied or sold in Australia. This Application contains variations to MRLs, which are not addressed in the Codex Alimentarius Commission standard. These MRLs may also relate to chemicals used in the production of heavily traded agricultural commodities, which may indirectly affect trade of derivative food products between WTO Members.

Products Covered: Foods in general.

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 04 August 2004

This Application seeks to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) to align maximum residue limits (MRLs) for the antibiotic avilamycin in pig commodities so that they are consistent with other national regulations relating to the safe and effective use of agricultural and veterinary chemicals. In administrative terms and consistent with international practice, MRLs assist in regulating the use of agricultural and veterinary chemical products. MRLs indicate whether agricultural and veterinary chemical products have been used in accordance with the registered conditions of use. MRLs in the Code also act to protect public health and public safety by ensuring that chemical residues are no higher than necessary, and act as international trading standards. The MRLs prescribed in the Code constitute a mandatory requirement applying to all food products of a particular class, whether produced domestically or imported. Food products with a residue that exceeds the relevant MRL set out in the Code cannot legally be supplied or sold in Australia. This Application contains variations to MRLs, which are not addressed in the Codex Alimentarius Commission standard. These MRLs may also relate to chemicals used in the production of heavily traded agricultural commodities, which may indirectly affect trade of derivative food products between WTO Members.

Products Covered: Foods in general.

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 03 August 2004

The Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) has proposed to enforce TIS 15: Part 1-2532(1989) as a mandatory standard. The standard classifies Portland cement into 5 types. Specifies chemical properties (e.g. aluminium oxide, loss on ignition, insoluble residue) and physical properties (e.g. air content of mortar, fineness, time of setting, etc.). Includes packaging, marking and labelling, sampling and criteria for conformity and testing.

Products Covered: Cement, Gypsum, Lime. Mortar (HS Chapter 2523, ICS:  91.100.10)

Regulation Type: Regular notification