Regulatory Updates

Distribution date: 02 September 2009 | Final date for Comment: 01 November 2009

Prescribe the requirements, methods of sampling and test for granulated rock phosphate fertilizers which contain phosphorus as the predominant primary plant nutrient and of biogenic sedimentary origin. ;

Products Covered: Fertilizer -Granulated rock phosphate, HS:31.31, ICS: 65.080

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 02 September 2009 | Final date for Comment: 01 November 2009

Prescribes the physical, chemical and microbiological requirements for ice cubes used in food processing and catering industry. ;

Products Covered: Ice cubes - HS:22.0I.I0, ICS: 67.250

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 31 August 2009 | Final date for Comment: 03 October 2009

This regulation is to inform an additional requirement on the chemical property of drinking water to the MOPH Notification entitled " Drinking Water in Sealed Container (No.6) item 3.2 (s) ", notified as G/SPS/N/THA/178 dated 4 August B.E. 2552 (2009). The whole item reads as follows : "(s) the content of Fluoride computed as Fluorine not exceeding 0.7 mg per 1 litre of drinking water, and not exceeding 1.5 mg per 1 litre for food processing. " Date of entry into effect : On the date after being notified in the Official Gazette.

Products Covered:

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 20 August 2009 | Final date for Comment: 19 October 2009

In order to put practical and reasonable standards in place, the proposed amendments allow deep sea water to be used in food; revise storage and distribution standards for kimchi, fried food, frozen bakery products and frozen jeotgal (salted, fermented and seasoned seafood); expand the types of food formulation; expand the definition of table salt; and revise the definition of food type for rice cakes and for processed tofu. For hazardous substances whose standards are not established, the revised provision stipulates that the strict standards of advanced countries may apply in comprehensive review of Commissioner of Korea Food and Drug Administration. Standards for lead and cadmium in processed meat and poultry products and standards for benzo(a)pyrene in smoked fishery products are set for supply of safe food products. To provide clarity in standard application, this proposal provides the list of pesticides which are allowed for use in other countries but are not registered in Korea to require non-detection in agricultural products for such chemicals. This proposal also reflects the revised provisions of Standards and Specifications for Food Additives by revising standards for food preservatives in fermented and concentrated fruit drinks.

Products Covered: Food products

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 20 August 2009

El 6 de agosto 2009, la Secretaría de Salud de México publicó en el Diario Oficial de la Federación las respuestas a los comentarios recibidos respecto del Proyecto de Norma Oficial Mexicana, Equipos y sustancias germicidas para tratamiento doméstico de agua. http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2009/sps/MEX/09_2869_00_s.pdf

Products Covered:

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 20 August 2009

The notified Mexican Official Standard is binding throughout Mexican territory for natural and legal persons involved in the processing and importation of equipment and germicides for domestic water treatment. Indoor and domestic methods of purifying water for human consumption involve the use of water treatment equipment and germicides, which are mainly aimed at dealing with bacteriological aspects considered to be an immediate health risk, but also, in certain cases, at removing physical and/or chemical elements.

Products Covered: Equipment and germicides for domestic water treatment.

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 18 August 2009 | Final date for Comment: 17 October 2009

"Commission Decision of 26 April 2004 on transitional sanitary and certification rules under Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards import from certain third countries of photographic gelatine" provides that the importation of photographic gelatine is only authorized from the third countries (Japan and the United States) listed in the Annex to that Decision. In accordance with that Decision, imported consignments have to be transported to the plant of destination under strict channelling conditions, in order to prevent potential risks to public and animal health. The Czech Republic has submitted a request for the authorization of imports of photographic gelatine from those third countries to an establishment on its territory. They have confirmed that the strict channelling conditions under the Decision will be applied in order to prevent potential health risks.

Products Covered: Photographic gelatine

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 18 August 2009

Products Covered: Animal or vegetable fertilizers, whether or not mixed together or chemically treated; fertilizers produced by the mixing or chemical treatment of animal or vegetable products (HS:  3101)

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 18 August 2009 | Final date for Comment: 04 September 2009

Proposed restriction on the use of Agricultural remedy, containing Chlorpyrifos, as an active agent in household, home garden and domestic use. The restriction on packaging is stated as well.

Products Covered: Chemical formulation – Organic Agricultural Remedy (HS: 29, ICS: 65.100.10) National Tariff Heading: Organic chemicals ;

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 12 August 2009

Import Directive for Highly Processed Products: The Import Directive for Highly Processed Products contains import conditions to reduce risks of contamination of non risk materials with the disease agent of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Specifically, the requirements for bovine hide derived products in the revision have been streamlined and are now combined for both human consumption products and animal uses (non livestock feeds). Requirements for bovine hide derived gelatine or collagen will be for veterinary certification that the product is hide derived, visible neural contamination has been removed by one of several methods (including washing, scraping, trimming or vacuuming) and the product was manufactured using an alkalinization step. This has been based on extensive joint Health Canada and CFIA scientific advice and is compliant with OIE and WHO guidelines. The changes to the Highly Processed Products Directive were put in place to reflect Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada legislative and policy requirements for removal of specified risk material (SRM) from all cattle at slaughter. SRM refers to any of the skull, brain, trigeminal ganglia, eyes, tonsils, spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia of cattle aged 30 months or older; and the distal ileum of cattle of all ages. All removed SRM are to be diverted away from the products for human consumption and animal food supply. The requirement to remove all SRM from cattle does not apply to products originating from a country that is designated as having negligible risk of BSE.

Products Covered: Highly Processed Products of bovine origin such as Gelatin (ICS Codes 65.020, 67.040)

Regulation Type: Revision to Regular Notification