Regulatory Updates

Distribution date: 03 July 2002

On 2 May 2001, New Zealand received a proposal from Australia that New Zealand consider a series of independent measures (systems approach), each effective at reducing the likelihood of the introduction of Queensland fruit fly, to enable the export of all varieties (previously only 5 varieties had been approved) of Australian tomatoes in lieu of having to undertake further and ongoing research on the efficacy of the post harvest chemical dip treatment. The proposal was prepared in accordance with the then draft relevant international standard (which has now been adopted). As these are trade-facilitating measures negotiated and agreed with Australia, the system has been approved and trade allowed to commence from the 27 May 2002. However, New Zealand will still take any comments into account and amend the import health standard if necessary.

Products Covered: Fresh tomato fruit (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 01 July 2002

Revision of harmonized Mercosur regulations on vegetable products from the period of 1995 to 1997. The new regulations remove the general requirements which asked for additional declarations on the Phytosanitary Certificates from any origin in the world for the mentioned products, maintaining in the new regulation harmonized specific requisites for the Mercosur member countries (Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay). From now on, according to the new above-mentioned regulations, a pest risk analysis (PRA) has to be made for every product to be imported from any country of origin. A time limit of 180 days, after the new regulation is in force, is given for the preparation of the pest risk analyses. In the meantime the previous requisites will prevail. Traditional exporting countries of these products have already started the PRA request in 1999 but, in general, have not provide yet all the information to finish the PRA. Under the present conditions, Mercosur member countries do not have to submit PRAs for any of the products covered by INs 6 to 32.

Products Covered: Alfalfa/lucern (Medicago sativa); barley (Hordeum vulgare); cacao (Theobroma cacao); clover (Trifolium spp); coffee (Coffea spp); corn (Zea mays); cotton (Gossypium spp); frijol (Phaseolus vulgaris); tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum); garlic (Allium sativum); grape vine (Vitis vinifera); ground-honeysuckle (Lotus corniculatus); melon (Cucumis melo); onion (Allium cepa); pimiento (Capsicum annum); pineapple (Ananas comosus); potato (Solanum tuberosum); rape (Brassica napus var.oleifera); rice (Oryza sativa); rye (Secale cereale); rye-grass (Lolium multiflorum); sorghum (Sorghum vulgaris); soybean (Glycine max); strawberry (Fragaria spp); sunflower (Helianthus annuus); tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum); triticale (Triticum aestivum X Secale cereale). The notifications for the above products revise the following previous notifications: G/SPS/N/BRA/33; Barley (no previous notification), 19, 30, 25, 18, 21, 32, 38, 41, 27, 34, 24, 42, 40, 26, 28, 37, 20; Rye (no previous notification), 35, 31 22 , 23, 36, 39 and Triticale (no previous notification), respectively. All but Barley, Rye and Triticale had previous notifications.

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 11 June 2002

This Notice concerns the implementation of "General Administration of Import and Export Food Labeling" (Decree of State Administration for Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine [2000] No.19) and "General Administration of Supervision and Inspection of Import and Export Cosmetics" (Decree of State Administration for Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine [2000] No. 21). From 1 July 2002, all food and cosmetics imported to and exported from China shall be accompanied with the "CERTIFICATE OF IMPORT-EXPORT FOOD/COSMETICS LABELING VERIFICATION" when applying for inspection. Before 1 November 2002, "ACCEPTANCE OF TESTIFICATION" issued by AQSIQ will still be valid when applying for inspection.

Products Covered: Food and cosmetics.

Regulation Type: Emergency notifications (SPS)

Distribution date: 11 June 2002

Products Covered: Food and Cosmetics

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 07 June 2002

Imported cosmetics from the BSE infected countries and regions may be sold in the Chinese market when official quarantine certificates provided as required prove that the animal origin contents contained in the cosmetics do not fall in the "List of bovine and ovine animal origin contents category I" and "List of bovine and ovine animal origin contents category II". For cosmetics containing such animal origin contents as listed in the "List of bovine and ovine animal origin contents category II", apart from the official quarantine certificate, risk analysis report shall also be provided to the Ministry of Health.

Products Covered: Cosmetics

Regulation Type: Emergency notifications (SPS)

Distribution date: 22 May 2002

This Act regulates the placing and control of fertilizers on the market, the conditions of use of the EC FERTILIZER designation, methods of sampling, analytical methods and conditions for ammonium nitrate fertilizers.

Products Covered: Fertilizers (HS code 31.02, ICS 65.08)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 21 May 2002

For cosmetics imported from BSE-infected countries or regions, importers must provide quarantine certificates issued by competent authorities of the exporting countries or regions to prove that the products being imported do not contain such animal origin contents as bovine and ovine brains, nerve tissue, bowels, placenta and blood (including related extract) etc.

Products Covered: Cosmetics

Regulation Type: Emergency notifications (SPS)

Distribution date: 21 May 2002

(1) Inspection Scope: gas cylinders which have the full load of liquefied petroleum gases and of a kind used for portable gas cookers, torches or refilling lighters. (2) Inspection standard: The TPKM Chinese National Standard CNS 14530 'Gas Cylinders for Portable Gas Cooker' (published date: 6 March 2001), and Sections 4, 5.6 and 9 of CNS 12951 'Liquefied petroleum gases' (published date: 17 January 1992). (3) The above-mentioned products shall not be imported into or marketed within the TPKM's territory unless they have passed type-test and have been certified by the BSMI. The importers or domestic manufacturers must submit applications to the BSMI for certifications of their products.

Products Covered: Gas cylinders which have the full load of liquefied petroleum gases and of a kind used for portable gas cookers, torches or refilling lighters.  (CCCN 2711.13.00.00-1B for liquefied butane fuel, CCCN 271.19.10.00-3B for petroleum gases fuel in the liquefied state [mixed liquefied propane and butane], CCCN 2901.10.20.00-0B for butane fuel)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 15 May 2002

Products Covered: All the construction products according to CCCN (Chapters 25, 32, 38, 44, 46, 68, 69, 70, and Chapters 72-80)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 26 April 2002

Objeto señalar los requisitos técnicos mínimos asociados con la aptitud para el uso y desempeño que deben cumplir los tubos y accesorios de alcantarillado y los de uso sanitario – agua lluvias, integrantes en su conjunto de los sistemas de conexión, recolección y transporte final de las aguas residuales domesticas, pluviales o combinadas, incluyendo las instalaciones sanitarias dentro de los inmuebles, Campo de Aplicación, Definiciones, Requisitos Técnicos: Resistencia química, Impermeabilidad del tubo, Estanqueidad de las uniones mecánicas, Empaques de sellamiento, Uniones soldadas con cemento solvente para tubos de PVC, Resistencia de los tubos al aplastamiento, Rotulado y Catalogo o información técnica, Procedimientos para evaluar la conformidad, Control y régimen sancionatorio, Condiciones generales, Sanciones, Partida arancelaria, Revisión y actualización, Verificación de la conformidad, Exigibilidad del certificado de conformidad, Notificaciones y Vigencia

Products Covered: 68.11.30.00.00, 68.10.91.00.00, 69.06.00.00.00, 39.17.21.00.00, 39.17.23.00.00 and 39.17.29.90.00,

Regulation Type: Regular notification