Distribution date: 23 January 2023 | Final date for Comment: 24 March 2023

This DraftRwanda Standard prescribes the requirements, sampling and test methods for pyrethrum-basedinsecticide formulation to be used as spray treatment (aerosol dispensers, AE) with the aim of protectingcrops, animals or public health from insects’ pest or vectors.

Products Covered: (HS code(s): 3808); Insecticides (ICS code(s): 65.100.10)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 24 January 2023 | Final date for Comment: 25 March 2023

New draft regulations announced by Israel's Ministry of Health called "Pharmacists' Regulations (Cosmetics), 5783-2022". The proposed regulations aim to establish requirements and instructions for cosmetic products, while setting high and professional requirements for the production, marketing, and import that will ensure the safety, quality, and efficiency of and the protection of public health.

Products Covered: Cosmetics

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 25 January 2023 | Final date for Comment: 26 March 2023

The draft law restricts production, processing, acquisition, wholesale or retail sale, storage, transportation within the state, import or export of certain doping substances (non-approved substances and anti-estrogenic substances) for sports purposes.

Products Covered: PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS (HS code(s): 30)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 30 January 2023 | Final date for Comment: 03 May 2025

The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act (the Act) came into force on 1 January 2023. The Act now:-      extends the Act’s regulatory powers over the composition of smoked tobacco products, such as nicotine levels, so that only products that meet requirements set out in the Act and in the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Regulations 2021 (the regulations) can be manufactured, imported, sold or supplied in New Zealand. This is intended to make smoked tobacco products less addictive and appealing. To implement these changes a regulatory regime must be established to oversee and monitor the import, manufacture, sale and supply of smoked tobacco products in New Zealand. The Ministry of Health has developed a consultation document setting out proposed requirements for the scheme, and these proposals are currently open for consultation. The consultation process involves targeted engagement with key groups, as well as an online consultation which can be found here Proposals for the Smoked Tobacco Regulatory Regime - New Zealand Ministry of Health - Citizen Space. The Act provides that nicotine levels in the tobacco in smoked tobacco products must not exceed 0.8mg/g. This maximum applies to each individual product and includes all sources of variability. The Act also requires that regulations are made to determine whether the levels have been exceeded, including necessary conformity assessment procedures. Additionally, nicotine must not be present in any other constituent of a smoked tobacco product. These restrictions will come into force in April 2025. We propose that testing requirements include reference to analytical chemical methods to determine nicotine content, with a focus on chromatography-based technology, such as:-      a method based on the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s SOP4 – Standard operating procedure for determination of nicotine in cigarette tobacco filler, 4 validated to account for the low nicotine levels prescribed-      or alternatively a Cooperation Centre for Scientific Research Relative to Tobacco (CORESTA) method, such as CORESTA no. 62 – Determination of Nicotine in Tobacco and Tobacco Products by Gas Chromatographic Analysis.5 Other suitable analytical methods, (eg, methods that test the nicotine content of the filler) may be possible. New Zealand wishes to provide an opportunity for members to provide any additional comment, including in relation to low-nicotine requirements and testing methods.Comments can be submitted online or sent directly to New Zealand’s TBT Enquiry Point at [email protected].

Products Covered: 24.01 Unmanufactured tobacco; tobacco refuse: 2401.10 – Tobacco, not stemmed/stripped: 24.02 Cigars, cheroots, cigarillos, and cigarettes, of tobacco or of tobacco substitutes: 24.03 Other manufactured tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes; “homogenised” or “reconstituted” tobacco; tobacco extracts and essences: Smoked tobacco products that are combustible and intended to be smoked and inhaled. This includes cigarettes, loose tobacco, pipe tobacco, roll your own tobacco, cigarillos, small cigars, cigars, and any other smoked niche tobacco product.

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 30 January 2023 | Final date for Comment: 03 May 2025

Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 lays down rules concerning the temporary increase of official controls upon entry into the Union on certain food and feed of non-animal origin from certain third countries (in Annex I); special import conditions for certain food and feed from certain third countries due to the contamination risk by mycotoxins, including aflatoxins, pesticide residues, pentachlorophenol and dioxins and microbiological contamination (in Annex II - increased official border controls and official certificate accompanied by the results of sampling and analysis in the third country).This Implementing Regulation amends Annexes I and II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 by introducing the following changes:1.    Modification of measures/new measures:-         Inclusion in Annex I of palm oil from Côte d'Ivoire due to risk of contamination by Sudan dyes; granadilla, passion fruit (Passiflora ligularis, passiflora edulis) from Colombia, basil (Ocimum basilicum) and mint (Mentha) from Israel, peppers of the genus Capsicum (other than sweet) from Kenya and Rwanda, black eyed beans (Vigna unguiculata) from Madagascar due to risk of contamination by pesticide residues; Sesamum seeds from Türkiye due to risk of contamination by Salmonella;-         Delisting from Annex I (and thus, from the Regulation) of groundnuts and products produced from groundnuts from Argentina and Brazil (aflatoxins), Galia melons (C. melo var. reticulatus) from Honduras, chinese celery (Apium graveolens) and yardlong beans (Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis, Vigna unguiculata ssp. unguiculata) from Cambodia, locust beans (carob), mucilages and thickeners, whether or not modified, derived from locust beans seeds from Morocco, groundnuts and products produced from groundnuts from Madagascar, tomato ketchup and other tomato sauces from Mexico, watermelon (Egusi, Citrullus spp.) seeds and derived products from Sierra Leone, turnips (Brassica rapa ssp. rapa) from Syria and coriander leaves, basil, mint and parsley from Viet Nam;-         Removal from Annex I and inclusion in Annex II of groundnuts and products produced from groundnuts from Bolivia, curry leaves (Bergera/Murrava koenigii) from India, turnips (Brassica rapa ssp. rapa) from Lebanon, Sesamum seeds from Nigeria and okra from Viet Nam;-         Increase in the frequency of identity and physical checks laid down in Annex I for groundnuts and products produced from groundnuts from Brazil (pesticide residues – 30%) gotukola (Centella asiatica) and mukunuwenna (Alternanthera sessilis) from Sri Lanka (30%), rice from Pakistan (aflatoxins and Ochratoxin A – 10%), lemons (Citrus limon, Citrus limonum) and grapefruits from Türkiye (30%) and cumin seeds and dried oregano from Türkiye (20%);-         Inclusion in Annex II of vanilla extract from the United States, due to contamination risk by ethylene oxide;-         Removal from Annex II and inclusion in Annex I of Brazil nuts in shell and mixtures of Brazil nuts or dried fruits containing Brazil nuts in shell from Brazil , betel leaves (Piper betle L.) from India, food supplements containing botanicals from South Korea, locust beans (carob), mucilages and thickeners, whether or not modified, derived from locust beans seeds from Malaysia, watermelon (Egusi, Citrullus spp.) seeds and derived products from Nigeria;-         Increase in the frequency of identity and physical checks laid down in Annex II for calcium carbonate from India (30%) and dried figs and products derived from dried figs from Türkiye (30%);-         Decrease in the frequency of identity and physical checks laid down in Annex II for yardlong beans (Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis, Vigna unguiculata ssp. unguiculata) from the Dominican Republic (30%) and Peppers of the genus Capsicum from India (aflatoxins - 10%).2.    Technical adjustments to existing measures:-         To allow for a more precise identification of commodities subject to increased official controls, the TARIC sub-division for CN code ex 1211 90 86 is corrected in the entry on gotukola (Centella asiatica) from Sri Lanka in Annex I;-         To allow for a better evaluation of the data from official controls performed by the member States, it is appropriate to divide the entry on spices from India by commodities and CN codes;-         To allow for a more precise identification of goods subject to temporary increase of official controls or to special conditions at their entry into the Union, it is appropriate to include a footnote related to food supplements containing botanicals from South Korea in Annex I and from India in Annex II;-         The limits of Sudan dyes and Rhodamine B is added in footnotes of Annex I and Annex II.In addition, this Implementing Regulation amends official certificate laid down in Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 to allow certify compliance with the Union requirements regarding Sudan dyes and Rhodamine B and Article 14 of that Regulation regarding the transitional period.

Products Covered: Multiple commodities

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 31 January 2023 | Final date for Comment: 03 May 2025

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is confirming the effective date of 28 October 2022, for the final rule that appeared in the Federal Register of 27 September 2022, and that amended the color additive regulations to provide for the safe use of calcium carbonate in dietary supplement tablets and capsules.

Products Covered: HS Code(s): 2936; ICS Code(s): 67

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 02 February 2023 | Final date for Comment: 03 April 2023

This draft order transfers the functions of the Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Lithuania, which are not inherent in the provisions of the Law, concerning the appointment of testing laboratories and certification bodies, and the appointment of Technical Assessment Bodies (TAB), to the public body Building Sector Development Agency.

Products Covered: All non-harmonised construction products

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 03 February 2023 | Final date for Comment: 03 May 2025

The aim of this addendum is to inform WTO Members that the Draft Uganda Standard; DUS 706:2021, Non-woven surgical dressing — Specification, Second Edition; notified in G/TBT/N/UGA/1398 and G/TBT/N/UGA/1398/Add.1 entered into force on 12 December 2022. The Uganda Standard, US 706: 2021, Non-woven surgical dressing — Specification, Second Edition, can be purchased online through the link: https://webstore.unbs.go.ug/

Products Covered: Non-woven surgical dressing

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 03 February 2023 | Final date for Comment: 03 May 2025

The aim of this addendum is to inform WTO Members that the Draft Uganda Standard; DUS 2296-2: 2021, Skin applied mosquito repellents — Specification — Part 2: Sprays and roll-ons, First Edition; notified in G/TBT/N/UGA/1381 and G/TBT/N/UGA/1381/Add.1 entered into force on 12 December 2022. The Uganda Standard, US 2296-2: 2022, Skin applied mosquito repellents — Specification — Part 2: Sprays and roll-ons, First Edition, can be purchased online through the link: https://webstore.unbs.go.ug/

Products Covered: Mosquito repellents

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 03 February 2023 | Final date for Comment: 03 May 2025

The aim of this addendum is to inform WTO Members that the Draft Uganda Standard; DUS 2296-3: 2021, Skin applied mosquito repellents — Specification — Part 3: Wipes, First Edition; notified in G/TBT/N/UGA/1382 and G/TBT/N/UGA/1382/Add.1 entered into force on 12 December 2022. The Uganda Standard, US 2296-3: 2022, Skin applied mosquito repellents — Specification — Part 3: Wipes, First Edition, can be purchased online through the link: https://webstore.unbs.go.ug/

Products Covered: Mosquito repellents

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification