Regulatory Updates

Distribution date: 18 September 2017 | Final date for Comment: 17 November 2017

This Draft Uganda Standard covers the determination of the resistance of concrete specimens to rapidly repeated cycles of freezing and thawing in the laboratory by two different procedures: Procedure A, Rapid Freezing and Thawing in Water, and Procedure B, Rapid Freezing in Air and Thawing in Water. Both procedures are intended for use in determining the effects of variations in the properties of concrete on the resistance of the concrete to the freezing-and-thawing cycles specified in the particular procedure. Neither procedure is intended to provide a quantitative measure of the length of service that may be expected from a specific type of concrete.

Products Covered: Refractory cements, mortars, concretes and similar compositions (excl. preparations based on graphite or other carbonaceous substances) (HS code(s): 3816); Refractory cements, mortars, concretes and similar compositions (excl. preparations based on graphite or other carbonaceous substances) (HS code(s): 381600); Non-refractory mortars and concretes (HS code(s): 382450); Articles of cement, concrete or artificial stone, whether or not reinforced (HS code(s): 6810); Concrete and concrete products (ICS code(s): 91.100.30)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 18 September 2017 | Final date for Comment: 17 November 2017

This Draft Uganda Standard covers the determination of the time of setting of concrete, with slump greater than zero, by means of penetration resistance measurements on mortar sieved from the concrete mixture. This test method is suitable for use only when tests of the mortar fraction will provide the information required. This test method may also be applied to prepared mortars and grouts. This test method is applicable under controlled laboratory conditions, as well as under field conditions.

Products Covered: Concrete mixtures

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 18 September 2017 | Final date for Comment: 17 November 2017

This Draft Uganda Standard covers determination of the air content of freshly mixed concrete from observation of the change in volume of concrete with a change in pressure. This test method is intended for use with concretes and mortars made with relatively dense aggregates for which the aggregate correction factor can be satisfactorily determined by the technique described in Section 6. It is not applicable to concretes made with lightweight aggregates, air-cooled blast-furnace slag, or aggregates of high porosity. In these cases, Test Method C173/C173M should be used. This test method is also not applicable to non-plastic concrete such as is commonly used in the manufacture of pipe and concrete masonry units.

Products Covered: Freshly Mixed Concrete

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 18 September 2017 | Final date for Comment: 17 November 2017

This Draft Uganda Standard covers determination of length Change of Hardened Hydraulic-Cement Mortar and Concrete.

Products Covered: Hardened Hydraulic Cement Mortar, Hardened Hydraulic Concrete.

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 15 September 2017 | Final date for Comment: 06 November 2017

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received a petition for rulemaking from Matthew McKinley on behalf of the Organization of Agreement States (OAS) (the Petitioner) dated 14 April 2017, requesting that the NRC revise its regulations to add radionuclides and their corresponding activities to the list of “Quantities of Licensed Material Requiring Labeling.” The petition was docketed by the NRC on 21 June 2017, and has been assigned Docket No. PRM-30-66. The NRC is examining the issues raised in PRM-30-66 to determine whether they should be considered in rulemaking. The NRC is requesting public comment on this petition, including specifically on the question of what products or technologies, other than the germanium-68 generators cited in the petition, are being or could be negatively affected because the radioactive materials required for these products or technologies are not currently listed on the table in appendix B of 10 CFR part 30.  Additionally, NRC solicits feedback on whether the petition raises other issues not addressed by questions in the notice about labelling or decommissioning financial assurance for radioactive materials.

Products Covered: Radioactive materials

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 14 September 2017 | Final date for Comment: 15 October 2017

Under Article 41 of the Law on Securing Quality, Efficacy and Safety of Products Including Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices, the Japanese Pharmacopoeia, Seventeenth edition are to be revised.

Products Covered: Pharmaceutical Products (HS:30)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 14 September 2017 | Final date for Comment: 08 December 2017

The proposed regulations amend the Regulations on fertilisers etc. of organic origin and the Regulations relating to the payment of fees for specific services provided by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority ("sewage sludge-based fertiliser" etc.). The proposed regulations introduce amendments to the national regulations concerning organic fertilisers containing, amongst other components, also sewage sludge. The proposal introduces the following amendments: - Products with the product designation "sewage sludge-based fertiliser" is to be subject to less stringent use-restriction compared to other sewage-sludge;- The use of the product designation is to be subject to an authorisation from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. Authorisation may only be given if the product has been treated using methods where the temperature during the hygienisation period is at least 55 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, the product must have a balanced nutrient content adapted to the annual needs of the plants and be suitable for use with at maximum addition of 100kg dry matter per decare per year of the sewage sludge component; - All operators in the delivery-chain are required to keep a record with information necessary for tracing the products. The users of "sewage sludge-based fertiliser" are also required to keep a record stating which enterprise the sludge product was received from, the product's trade name, the quantity received and the date on which it was received. The record shall also contain outline maps showing the areas where the sludge has been used. It must be stated what quantity of sludge has been used per decare and the date on which it was spread; - The records must be stored for at least ten years. The operator is to pay a fee of 3,675 NOK for the authorisation.

Products Covered: Organic fertilisers containing sewage sludge (under Chapter 31.01.0000)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 12 September 2017

Technical Regulation introducing amendments in the current regulation to include methanol in the definition of solvent and make more effective the control over that product due to its potential to adulterate gasoline and hydrated ethanol. It includes article 7A in Ordinance 312, 27 December 2001, and revokes subsection VIII of article 1st of the Ordinance 170, 20 October 1999.

Products Covered: HS (290511) Methanol (methyl alcohol); HS (2904) Hydrocarbon derivatives.

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 12 September 2017 | Final date for Comment: 08 December 2017

The proposed regulations amending the Regulations on fertilisers etc. of organic origin and the Regulations relating to the payment of fees for specific services provided by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (‘sewage sludge-based fertiliser’ etc.) introduces amendments to the national regulations concerning organic fertilisers containing, amongst other components, also sewage sludge. The proposal introduces the following amendments:  Products with the product designation ‘sewage sludge-based fertiliser’ is to be subject to less stringent use-restriction compared to other sewage sludge.  The use of the product designation is to be subject to an authorisation from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. Authorisation may only be given if the product has been treated using methods where the temperature during the hygienisation period is at 55 degrees Celcius. Furthermore, the product must have a balanced nutrient content adapted to the annual needs of the plants and be suitable for use with at maximum addition of 100 kg dry matter per decar per year of the sewage sludge component.  All operators in the delivery-chain are required to keep a record with information necessary for tracing the products.  The users of ‘sewage sludge-based fertiliser’ are also required to keep a record stating which enterprise the sludge product was received from, the product’s trade name, the quantity received and the date on which it was received. The record shall also contain outline maps showing the areas where the sludge has been used. It must be stated what quantity of sludge has been used per decare and the date on which it was spread.  The records must be stored for at least 10 years. The operator is to pay a fee of 3,675 NOK for the authorisation.

Products Covered: 31.01.0000. Organic fertilisers produced from i.e. sewage sludge.

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 12 September 2017 | Final date for Comment: 11 November 2017

So far, composts made of animal wastes as raw materials applied with flocculants and coagulants are only allowed if registered by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries prior to producing and selling them as fertilizers. Thereafter, by amending the Official Specifications, regulations are to be deregulated to enable composts with flocculants and coagulants to be produced and sold by submitting notification.For details, see the attachment.

Products Covered: Fertilizer (HS: 3101)

Regulation Type: Regular notification