Distribution date: 15 January 2024 | Final date for Comment: 22 April 2025

The Committee for Veterinary Control and Surveillance of the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan reports that, on the basis of the official notification of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus was registered in Lithuania. In this regard, since 21 December 2023, temporary restrictions have been introduced on the importation to the territory of Kazakhstan from Lithuania of live poultry and hatching eggs, down and feathers, poultry meat and all types of poultry products that have not undergone heat treatment (at least 70 °C), feed and feed additives for birds (except for feed additives of chemical and microbiological synthesis), hunting trophies that have not undergone taxidermic treatment (feathered game), used equipment for keeping, slaughtering and butchering birds, as well as for the transit from the above territory through the territory of Kazakhstan of live birds.

Products Covered: Live poultry and hatching eggs, down and feathers, poultry meat and all types of poultry products, feed and feed additives for birds, hunting trophies, used equipment for keeping, slaughtering and butchering birds

Regulation Type: Emergency notifications (SPS)

Distribution date: 15 January 2024 | Final date for Comment: 22 April 2025

The Committee for Veterinary Control and Surveillance of the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan reports that, on the basis of the official notification of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus was registered in Lithuania. In this regard, since 21 December 2023, temporary restrictions have been introduced on the importation to the territory of Kazakhstan from Lithuania of live poultry and hatching eggs, down and feathers, poultry meat and all types of poultry products that have not undergone heat treatment (at least 70 °C), feed and feed additives for birds (except for feed additives of chemical and microbiological synthesis), hunting trophies that have not undergone taxidermic treatment (feathered game), used equipment for keeping, slaughtering and butchering birds, as well as for the transit from the above territory through the territory of Kazakhstan of live birds.

Products Covered: Live poultry and hatching eggs, down and feathers, poultry meat and all types of poultry products, feed and feed additives for birds, hunting trophies, used equipment for keeping, slaughtering and butchering birds

Regulation Type: Emergency notifications (SPS)

Distribution date: 17 January 2024 | Final date for Comment: 11 March 2024

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is announcing that we have filed a food additive petition, submitted by Environmental Defense Fund, et al., proposing that the food additive regulations be amended to remove four specified solvents. The food additive petition was filed on 21 December 2023.

Products Covered: Cyclic hydrocarbons (HS code(s): 2902); Halogenated derivatives of hydrocarbons (HS code(s): 2903); Food technology (ICS code(s): 67)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 17 January 2024 | Final date for Comment: 11 March 2024

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is announcing that we have filed a food additive petition, submitted by Environmental Defense Fund, et al., proposing that the food additive regulations be amended to remove four specified solvents. The food additive petition was filed on 21 December 2023.

Products Covered: Cyclic hydrocarbons (HS code(s): 2902); Halogenated derivatives of hydrocarbons (HS code(s): 2903); Food technology (ICS code(s): 67)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 17 January 2024 | Final date for Comment: 11 March 2024

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is announcing that we have filed a color additive petition, submitted by Environmental Defense Fund, et al., proposing that the color additive regulations be amended to remove three specified solvents.  The color additive petition was filed on 21 December 2023.

Products Covered: Halogenated derivatives of hydrocarbons (HS code(s): 2903); Food technology (ICS code(s): 67)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 17 January 2024 | Final date for Comment: 11 March 2024

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is announcing that we have filed a color additive petition, submitted by Environmental Defense Fund, et al., proposing that the color additive regulations be amended to remove three specified solvents.  The color additive petition was filed on 21 December 2023.

Products Covered: Halogenated derivatives of hydrocarbons (HS code(s): 2903); Food technology (ICS code(s): 67)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 19 January 2024 | Final date for Comment: 19 March 2024

Revision of the Mandatory Standard SI 562 part 3, dealing with the migration of certain chemical elements from toys. This draft standard revision adopts the European Standard EN-71-3: 2019 + A1: April 2021, with a few changes that appear in the standard's Hebrew section. Both the old standard and this new revised standard will apply from entry into force of this revision for 12 months. During this time, products may be tested according to the old or the new revised standard.

Products Covered: Toys

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 19 January 2024 | Final date for Comment: 19 March 2024

Revision of the Mandatory Standard SI 562 part 3, dealing with the migration of certain chemical elements from toys. This draft standard revision adopts the European Standard EN-71-3: 2019 + A1: April 2021, with a few changes that appear in the standard's Hebrew section. Both the old standard and this new revised standard will apply from entry into force of this revision for 12 months. During this time, products may be tested according to the old or the new revised standard.

Products Covered: Toys

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 24 January 2024 | Final date for Comment: 24 March 2024

This draft Law amends and supplements a number of articles of Law No. 105/2016/QH13 on Pharmacy. These Articles include 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 17, 24, 28, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60, 61, 64, 65, 76, 78, 79, 87, 89, 107, 109, 110, 112, 113; This draft Law abolishes point c and d, clause 26, Article 2, point a, clause 10, Article 6, point b, clause 4, Article 7 of Law No. 105/2016/QH13 on Pharmacy.Transitional provisions:1. Certificates of drug information and advertising content issued under the provisions of Law No. 105/2016/QH13 on Pharmacy will continue to be used until the expiry of the Certificate’s validity2. Dossier submitted before the entry into force of this draft Law and requesting the issuance, extension, amendment or supplementation of the registration certificate for the circulation of drugs and medicinal ingredients shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 105/2016 /QH13 on Pharmacy, except in cases where the establishment requests to comply with the provisions of this draft Law.3. For dossiers applying for a License to import toxic drugs and toxic medicinal ingredients; drugs and medicinal ingredients that are on the list of substances whose use is prohibited in a number of industries and fields used for testing, research, and manufacturing of drugs for export in accordance with the provisions of the 2016 Law on Pharmacy and its guiding Decrees.4. Chain pharmacy businesses that have had a chain pharmacy system prior to the effective date of this Law shall complete procedures to apply for a certificate of authority to do business as a chain within 45 days of the effective date of this draft Law.The regulations on granting, extending, amendment and supplementing circulation registration certificates for drugs and medicinal ingredients, except for regulations on issuing medical oxygen product declaration forms, shall be applied from January 1, 2025The Draft Law was formulated based on the basis of 05 policies submitted to the Government and the National Assembly of Vietnam in the proposal No. 09/TTr-BYT dated on January 5th, 2023 as well as other difficulties and issues encountered during the implementation process, as follows: 1. Policy 1: Further strengthen the sufficient and timely supply of quality-assured medicines to meet people's need for disease prevention and treatment.2. Policy 2: Ensure sufficient and timely supply of drugs that meet the demands of security, national defense, coping with the consequences of natural disasters, and preventing epidemics and diseases in the new situation3. Policy 3: Improve the efficiency of import/export management of drugs/medicinal materials to the socio-economic development situation and international practice4. Policy 4: Promote the development of the pharmaceutical industry with emphasis on research, technology transfer and production of high-tech drugs, biological drugs/medicinal materials, standardized herbal medicines, and raw materials from domestically available pharmaceutical sources.5. Policy 5: Organize and rearranging the business and distribution system for drugs/medicinal materials to cope with socio-economic development and international integration. 

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

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 24 January 2024 | Final date for Comment: 24 March 2024

This draft Law amends and supplements a number of articles of Law No. 105/2016/QH13 on Pharmacy. These Articles include 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 17, 24, 28, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60, 61, 64, 65, 76, 78, 79, 87, 89, 107, 109, 110, 112, 113; This draft Law abolishes point c and d, clause 26, Article 2, point a, clause 10, Article 6, point b, clause 4, Article 7 of Law No. 105/2016/QH13 on Pharmacy.Transitional provisions:1. Certificates of drug information and advertising content issued under the provisions of Law No. 105/2016/QH13 on Pharmacy will continue to be used until the expiry of the Certificate’s validity2. Dossier submitted before the entry into force of this draft Law and requesting the issuance, extension, amendment or supplementation of the registration certificate for the circulation of drugs and medicinal ingredients shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 105/2016 /QH13 on Pharmacy, except in cases where the establishment requests to comply with the provisions of this draft Law.3. For dossiers applying for a License to import toxic drugs and toxic medicinal ingredients; drugs and medicinal ingredients that are on the list of substances whose use is prohibited in a number of industries and fields used for testing, research, and manufacturing of drugs for export in accordance with the provisions of the 2016 Law on Pharmacy and its guiding Decrees.4. Chain pharmacy businesses that have had a chain pharmacy system prior to the effective date of this Law shall complete procedures to apply for a certificate of authority to do business as a chain within 45 days of the effective date of this draft Law.The regulations on granting, extending, amendment and supplementing circulation registration certificates for drugs and medicinal ingredients, except for regulations on issuing medical oxygen product declaration forms, shall be applied from January 1, 2025The Draft Law was formulated based on the basis of 05 policies submitted to the Government and the National Assembly of Vietnam in the proposal No. 09/TTr-BYT dated on January 5th, 2023 as well as other difficulties and issues encountered during the implementation process, as follows: 1. Policy 1: Further strengthen the sufficient and timely supply of quality-assured medicines to meet people's need for disease prevention and treatment.2. Policy 2: Ensure sufficient and timely supply of drugs that meet the demands of security, national defense, coping with the consequences of natural disasters, and preventing epidemics and diseases in the new situation3. Policy 3: Improve the efficiency of import/export management of drugs/medicinal materials to the socio-economic development situation and international practice4. Policy 4: Promote the development of the pharmaceutical industry with emphasis on research, technology transfer and production of high-tech drugs, biological drugs/medicinal materials, standardized herbal medicines, and raw materials from domestically available pharmaceutical sources.5. Policy 5: Organize and rearranging the business and distribution system for drugs/medicinal materials to cope with socio-economic development and international integration. 

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

Regulation Type: Regular notification