Distribution date: 15 August 2008 | Final date for Comment: 24 April 2025

The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu proposed amendments to the Sanitation Standard for Propane to be Used in Food on 20 May 2008 (G/SPS/N/TPKM/138). The final requirements entered into force on 12 August 2008. http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2008/sps/TPKM/08_2503_00_x.pdf http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2008/sps/TPKM/08_2503_00_e.pdf For further information or copies of the final requirements, please contact national enquiry point: Bureau of Food Safety Department of Health, 12F, 100 Ai-Kuo E. Rd., Taipei, Taiwan, Postal Code 100; Tel: +(886 2) 2321 0151 ext 358; Fax: +(886 2) 2392 9723; E-mail: [email protected]

Products Covered:

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 20 August 2008 | Final date for Comment: 19 October 2008

This Omani/Gulf draft technical regulation concerns with edible acid casein and caseinate. Items concerned with packaging and labelling (items 8 and 10 of the TR) are compulsory. The remaining items are voluntary.

Products Covered: Edible acid casein, edible rennet casein and edible caseinate, intended for direct consumption or further processing

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 01 September 2008 | Final date for Comment: 24 April 2025

Products Covered: Radioactive material (ICS: 13.280; HS: 2844; 9022)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 05 September 2008 | Final date for Comment: 24 April 2025

The Certain Ruminants and Their Products Importation Prohibition Regulations, No. 2, which cover a range of currently prohibited US commodities, were set to expire on 30 August 2008. The importation prohibition Regulations are a temporary measure that will be repealed or allowed to lapse once the Health of Animals Regulations amendments, currently in progress, are finalized. The Regulations Amending the Certain Ruminants and Their Products Importation Prohibition Regulations, No. 2 extend the operation of the prohibition Regulations to 31 December 2008. The electronic version of the regulatory amendment can be downloaded from: http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partII/2008/20080828-x2/html/extra2-e.html http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partII/2008/20080828-x2/html/extra2-f.html or requested from: Canadian Enquiry Point Standards Council of Canada 200-270 Albert Street Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6N7 Tel: +(613) 238 3222 Fax: +(613) 569 7808 E-mail: [email protected]

Products Covered:

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 09 September 2008 | Final date for Comment: 24 April 2025

Amends rules concerning the protection of trade secrets. Describes the circumstances when specific information on product composition is required and specifies the required information on product composition. Describes how manufactures can designate information to be considered as trade secrets.

Products Covered: Fertilizers (HS: 31; ICS 65.080)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 18 September 2008 | Final date for Comment: 24 April 2025

Products Covered: KN-Code: 2710 19 41, KN-Code: 3824 90 91, KN-Code: 3824 90 97, KN-Codes: 2711 12 11 – 2711 19 00, KN-Code: 2711 21 00, HS: 1507 - 1518

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 24 September 2008 | Final date for Comment: 10 November 2008

This draft technical regulation approves the inclusion of enzymes for food production for human consumption according to the Resolution Annex.

Products Covered: Enzyme

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 03 October 2008 | Final date for Comment: 24 April 2025

The Commission Directive 96/77/EC of 2 December 1996 laying down specific purity criteria on food additives other than colours and sweeteners has been substantially amended several times [amendments notified in documents G/SPS/N/EEC/088 (27/06/2000), G/SPS/N/EEC/168 (3/07/2002), G/SPS/N/EEC/202 (17/06/2003), G/SPS/N/EEC/233 (26/01/2004) and lastly G/SPS/N/EEC/296 (03/10/2006)]. In the interest of clarity and rationality the said directive has been codified and adopted as "Commission Directive 2008/84/EC of 27 August 2008 laying down specific purity criteria on food additives other than colours and sweeteners (Codified version)" [OJ L253, 20 September 2008, pp.1-175]. The full text can be downloaded from the internet address indicated below http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:253:0001:0175:EN:PDF http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:253:0001:0175:FR:PDF http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:253:0001:0175:ES:PDF or http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2008/sps/EEC/08_3156_e.pdf http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2008/sps/EEC/08_3156_f.pdf http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2008/sps/EEC/08_3156_s.pdf The notified document can be obtained from the EC Enquiry Point: [email protected]

Products Covered:

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 08 October 2008 | Final date for Comment: 24 April 2025

The US Food and Drug Administration published a final rule in the Federal Register on 29 September 2008 (73 FR 56477), amending the "Calcium and Reduced Risk of Osteoporosis" health claim (21 CFR 101.72) to: (1) include vitamin D so that in addition to a claim for calcium and reduced risk of osteoporosis, a claim can be made for calcium and vitamin D and reduced risk of osteoporosis; (2) eliminate the requirement that the claim list sex, race, and age as specific risk factors for the development of osteoporosis; (3) eliminate the requirements that the claim identify the populations at particular risk for the development of osteoporosis and that the claim does not state or imply that the risk of osteoporosis is equally applicable to the general United States population; (4) eliminate the requirement that the claim identify the mechanism by which calcium reduces the risk of osteoporosis; (5) eliminate the requirement that the claim include a statement that a total dietary intake greater than 200 percent of the recommended daily intake of calcium has no further benefit to bone health when the food contains 400 mg or more of calcium per reference amount customarily consumed or per total daily recommended supplement intake; and (6) allow reference for the need of physical activity in the claim to be optional rather then required. This action is being taken to provide truthful, scientifically valid information to assist consumers in constructing healthier total daily diets. The complete text of the Final Rule in the Federal Register, (73 FR 56477) (available in English), can be found on the Internet at: http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/E8-22730.pdf For information contact: Jillonne Kevala, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-830), Food and Drug Administration, 5100 Paint Branch Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740-3835, 301-436-1450.

Products Covered:

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 14 October 2008 | Final date for Comment: 13 December 2008

Draft regulation that establishes sanitary requirements for importation of bovine blood plasma/serum.

Products Covered: Blood plasma/serum

Regulation Type: Regular notification