Regulatory Updates

Distribution date: 05 January 2021

Regulation amending and supplementing the national technical regulation on Wood adhesives promulgated by Circular No. 40/2018/TT-BNNPTNT, dated 27 December 2018, of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. AGENCY: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development No. 2 Ngoc Ha street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam Tel: (+84-24) 37349845Fax: (+84-24) 38438793Website: http://tongcuclamnghiep.gov.vn/Email: congttdt@gmail.com. SUMMARY1. Amend regulations on  the scope of regulation in Section 1.1, National technical regulation on Wood adhesives as follows:- This regulation prescribes the limit of free formaldehyde content in wood adhesives containing formaldehyde components domestically produced, imported and circulated in the Vietnamese market.- This Regulation does not apply to wood adhesives products and goods imported in the form of test samples; sample; exhibition goods; goods temporarily imported for re-export, goods in transit2. Amend regulations on regulation conformity announcement methods in Section 3.1.1 The Regulation as follows:Wood adhesives products and goods containing formaldehyde components must be declared compliant with the free formaldehyde content limit specified in Table 2.1, Part 2 of this draft technical regulation, basing on results of certification of a certification body registered or recognized in accordance with the law.  The testing for regulation conformity announcement shall be carried out at testing bodies that have been granted the certificate of registration of testing activities according to the provisions of Decree No. 107/2016/ND-CP dated July 1, 2016 regulating on business conditions of conformity assessment services3. Supplement a provision on responsibility of the state management agency in management of the quality and conformity declaration of wood adhesives products in Section 4.1 of the technical regulation as follows:- Vietnam Administration of Forestry is responsible for inspection and consideration of exemption from inspection of quality of products and goods that contain formaldehyde-containing wood adhesives.- Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the provinces and cities under the central government receive the dossier of regulation conformity announcement and post it on its portal. PROPOSED DATE OF ADOPTION: April 2021PROPOSED DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE: October 2021FINAL DATE FOR COMMENTS: 60 days from the date of notification

Products Covered: Wood adhesives

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 05 January 2021

The aim of this addendum is to inform WTO Members that the Draft Uganda Standard; DUS 47:2010, Carbonated and non–carbonated soft drinks – Specification; notified in G/TBT/N/UGA/182 was adopted on 15 December 2020. The adopted Uganda Standard, US 47:2020, Carbonated and non–carbonated soft drinks – Specification, can be purchased online through the link: https://webstore.unbs.go.ug/

Products Covered: Beverages – Non-alcoholic, 67.160.20

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 17 December 2020

Draft Compliance Guide for Imported Articles Containing Surface Coatings Subject to the Long-Chain Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylate and Perfluoroalkyl Sulfonate Chemical Substances Significant New Use Rule; Notice of Availability and Request for Comment AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ACTION: Notice SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of and soliciting public comment on the draft compliance guide for the significant new uses EPA identified under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for the import of articles with certain long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylate (LCPFAC) chemicals as part of the surface coating, as established by EPA's final rule "Long-Chain Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylate and Perfluoroalkyl Sulfonate Chemical Substances; Significant New Use Rule." Specifically, the guide provides additional clarity on what is meant by a "surface coating," identifies which entities are regulated, describes the activities that are required or prohibited, and summarizes the notification requirements of the final significant new use rule (SNUR). Comments must be received on or before 15 January 2021. This notice announcing the availability of and soliciting public comment on the draft compliance guide is identified by Docket Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0621. The Docket Folder is available on Regulations.gov at https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0621 and provides access to primary and supporting documents as well as comments received. Documents are also accessible from Regulations.gov by searching the Docket Number. WTO Members and their stakeholders are asked to submit comments to the USA TBT Enquiry Point. Comments received by the USA TBT Enquiry Point from WTO Members and their stakeholders will be shared with the regulator and will also be submitted to the Docket on Regulations.gov if received within the comment period. Previous actions notified under the symbol G/TBT/N/USA/956 are identified by Docket Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2013-0225. The Docket Folder is available on Regulations.gov at https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EPA-HQ-OPPT-2013-0225 and provides access to primary and supporting documents as well as comments received. Documents are also accessible from Regulations.gov by searching the Docket Number.

Products Covered: Long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylate (LCPFAC) chemical substances

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 14 December 2020

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ACTION: Determination of acceptability SUMMARY: This determination of acceptability expands the list of acceptable substitutes pursuant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. This action lists as acceptable additional substitutes for use in the refrigeration and air conditioning, foam blowing, and fire suppression sectors. This determination is applicable on 11 December 2020. This determination of acceptability and previous actions notified under the symbol G/TBT/N/USA/1013 are identified by Docket Number EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0118. The Docket Folder is available on Regulations.gov at https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0118 and provides access to primary documents as well as comments received. Documents are also accessible from Regulations.gov by searching the Docket Number.

Products Covered: Chemical substances

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 14 December 2020

Products covered: ICS 97.040.60 - Cookware, cutlery and flatware, ICS 77.150.10 - Aluminium products This addendum concerns the notification of Draft of the Egyptian standard ES 573 "Aluminum Cookware for use on top of a stove, cooker or hob" (40 pages, in Arabic). It should be noted that the Ministerial Decree No. 423/2005 (25 pages, in Arabic) which was formerly notified in G/TBT/N/EGY/3 dated 14 December 2005 mandated among others the earlier version of this Standard. Worth mentioning is that this standard complies with EN 12983-1/2000 +A1/2004. Producers and importers are kept informed of any amendments in the Egyptian standards through the publication of administrative orders in the official gazette. Date of adoption: To be determined. Date of entry into force: To be determined. Agency or authority designated to handle comments and text available from:National Enquiry PointEgyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality16 Tadreeb El-Modarrebeen St., Ameriya, Cairo - EgyptE-mail: eos@idsc.net.eg/eos.tbt@eos.org.egWebsite: http://www.eos.org.egTel:  + (202) 22845528Fax: + (202) 22845504

Products Covered: Chemical, textile and engineering products

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 30 November 2020

Resolution - RDC number 428 , 7 October 2020 - previously notified through G/TBT/N/BRA/760/Add.2 - which changes the Resolution - RDC number 177, 21 September 2017, which provides for the ban on the active ingredient Paraquat in pesticides in the country and for transitional risk mitigation measures; and regulates the application of the stocks of the active ingredient Paraquat based products under possession of the Brazilian farmers in the crops management of the agricultural harvest of 2020/2021, was changed by the Resolution - RDC number 436, 5 November 2020. 

Products Covered: Produtos agrotóxicos

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 30 November 2020

The  Resolution  - RDC  number 428 , 7 October 2020 - previously notified through  G/TBT/N/BRA/760/Add.2  - which changes the  Resolution - RDC  number 177, 21 September 2017, which provides for the ban on the active ingredient Paraquat in pesticides in the country and for transitional risk mitigation measures; and regulates the application of the stocks of the active ingredient Paraquat based products under possession of the Brazilian farmers in the crops management of the agricultural harvest of 2020/2021, was republished in part, for updating and correction in Art. 2a, published in the Brazilian Official Gazette No. 194 of 8 October 2020, Section 1, p. 67.

Products Covered: Produtos agrotóxicos

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 27 November 2020

Draft Resolution number 69, 9 September 2014 – previously notified through G/TBT/N/BRA/608 – which establishes that the personal hygiene products, cosmetics and perfumes marketed in Brazil must have their chemical composition written in Portuguese in their labels, was adopted as Resolution – RDC number 432, 4 November 2020. The publication of this resolution was made in compliance with a judicial determination.

Products Covered: Labelling of personal hygiene products, cosmetics and perfumes...

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 10 November 2020

Products covered: toys (ICS: 97.200.50) This addendum concerns the notification of draft of Egyptian Standard ES 7093 " essential requirements for safety of toys " (partial amendment in 1 page, in Arabic). It should be noted that Ministerial Decree No. 974/2014 (1 page, in Arabic) which was formerly notified in G/TBT/N/EGY/70/Corr.1 dated 11 June 2015, mandated among others the earlier versions of this Standard. Worth mentioning is that this standard has been partially modified in the following items: Table (3) Limits of migratory elements. Item 5 marking. Worth mentioning is that this draft standard is comply with 2009/48/EC “ Safety of toys”.   Producers and importers are kept informed of any amendments in the Egyptian standard through the publication of administrative orders in the official gazette. Proposed date of adoption: to be determined Proposed date of entry into force: to be determined Agency or authority designated to handle comments and text available from:National Enquiry PointEgyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality16 Tadreeb El-Modarrebeen St., Ameriya, Cairo – EgyptTel: + (202) 22845528Fax: + (202) 22845504E-mail: eos@idsc.net.eg/tbteos@eos.org.egWebsite: http://www.eos.org.eg

Products Covered: Toys

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 10 November 2020

Products covered: (ICS 71.100.80) Chemicals for purification of water   This addendum concerns the notification of the Draft of the Egyptian standard ES 382-2 "Ethyl Alcohol- part 2:   Alcohol Denaturants – Specification” (47 pages, in Arabic). It should be noted that the Ministerial Decree No. 423/2005 (25 pages, in Arabic) which was formerly notified in G/TBT/N/EGY/3 dated 14 December 2005 mandated among others the earlier version of this Standard. Worth mentioning is that this draft standard is technically identical with IS 4117/2008. Producers and importers are kept informed of any amendments in the Egyptian standard through the publication of administrative orders in the official gazette. Date of adoption: To be determined. Date of entry into force: To be determined. Agency or authority designated to handle comments and text available from: National Enquiry Point Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality 16 Tadreeb El-Modarrebeen St., Ameriya, Cairo - Egypt E-mail: eos@idsc.net.eg/eos.tbt@eos.org.eg Website: http://www.eos.org.eg Tel: + (202) 22845528 Fax: + (202) 22845504

Products Covered: Chemical, textile and engineering products

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification