Regulatory Updates
The Government of Canada responds to reports of melamine in food products
Distribution date: 28 January 2009
Health Canada has set the following interim standards to limit the occurrence of melamine in products containing milk and milk-derived ingredients: Infant formula and sole source nutrition products, including meal replacement products: . Maximum of 0.5 part per million (ppm) Other food products containing milk and milk-derived ingredients: . Maximum of 2.5 ppm Health Canada's interim standards for melamine in products containing milk and milk-derived ingredients are set to ensure that all age groups and segments of the population are protected, were developed using a consistent approach adopted by other food regulatory agencies in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, and are based on the WHO recommendation to use a TDI of 0.2 mg/kg bw/day for melamine (December 2008).
Products Covered: Infant formula and sole source nutrition products, including meal-replacement products; Other food products containing milk and milk-derived ingredients (ICS Codes 67.100, 67.230)
Regulation Type: Emergency notifications (SPS)
Children's Products Containing Lead; Exemptions for Certain Electronic Devices
Distribution date: 26 January 2009 | Final date for Comment: 17 February 2009
On 14 August 2008, Congress enacted the Consumer Product ; Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), Public Law 110-314, 122 Stat.3016. Section 101 of the CPSIA provides for specific lead limits in children's products. Section 101(b)(2) of the CPSIA provides that the ; lead limits will not apply to any component part of a children's product that is not accessible to a child through normal and reasonably foreseeable use and abuse. In addition, section 101(b)(4) of the CPSIA ; provides that if the Commission determines that it is not technologically feasible for certain electronic devices to comply with the lead limits, the Commission must issue requirements by regulation to eliminate or minimize the potential for exposure to and accessibility of lead in such electronic devices and establish a ; compliance schedule unless the Commission determines that full compliance is not technologically feasible. For certain electronic devices for which it is not technologically feasible to meet the lead limits, the Commission is proposing requirements to eliminate or minimize the potential for exposure and accessibility of lead.
Products Covered: Children’s products (HS 28-8, 9503, Ch. 78 ) (ICS 97.200, 31.020)
Regulation Type: Regular notification
Specification, Scope and Application Standards of Food Additives: Synthetic Lycopene
Distribution date: 26 January 2009
The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu proposed amendments to the Specification, Scope and Application Standards of Food Additives: Kaolin, talc, sodium carbonate, sunset yellow FCF, allura red AC, titanium dioxide, citric acid, isomalt on 11 April 2008 (G/SPS/N/TPKM/136). The final amendment has entered into force on 22 January 2009.
Products Covered:
Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification
“Technical regulation on trading and distributing of the certain imported prepackaged goods with labeling in Mongolian language to domestic market” (2008)
Distribution date: 26 January 2009 | Final date for Comment: 15 March 2009
Technical regulation applies to the certain prepackaged imported products that should be traded and distributed with the labeling in Mongolian language in domestic market.
Products Covered: HS Code: 02, 03, 04, 07, 08, 09, 11.01, 11.02, 11.04, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25.01, 33.03, 33.04, 33.05, 33.06, 33.07, 34.01, 34.02, 34.04, 34.05, 34.06, 34.07, 35.06, 36.05, 36.06, 48.03, 48.18
Regulation Type: Regular notification
Draft Technical Regulation of the Ecuadorian Standardization Institute RTE INEN 040: "Welding of steel structures, domestically produced or imported and marketed in the Republic of Ecuador" (13 pages, in Spanish).
Distribution date: 22 January 2009 | Final date for Comment: 23 March 2009
Este Proyecto de Reglamento Técnico establece el campo de aplicación; definiciones; condiciones generales; requisitos; ensayos para evaluar la conformidad; muestreo; normas, reglamentos y códigos de referencia o consultadas; demostración de la conformidad; organismos encargados de la evaluación y la certificación de la conformidad; autoridad de fiscalización y/o supervisión; tipo de fiscalización y/o supervisión; régimen de sanciones; responsabilidad de los organismos de evaluación de la conformidad; y, revisión y actualización para la soldadura de estructuras de acero.
Products Covered: HS tariff subheadings 3810.90.10.00; 3810.90.20.00; 8311.10.00.00; 8311.20.00.00; 8311.30.00.00; 8311.90.00.00
Regulation Type: Regular notification
Partial revision of the Standards for Cosmetics
Distribution date: 14 January 2009 | Final date for Comment: 15 March 2009
The positive list is revised in the Standards for Cosmetics
Products Covered: Cosmetics
Regulation Type: Regular notification
Title: National Volatile Organic Compound Emission Standards for Aerosol Coatings ; ; AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ; ; ACTION: Final Rule ; ; SUMMARY: EPA published a direct final rule and parallel proposal on 7 November 2008 (73 FR 66184) to amend the national volatile organic compound (VOC) emission standards for aerosol coatings, which EPA promulgated on 24 March 2008 (73 FR 15604), by extending the compliance date and changing the submittal date for initial notification reports. Because EPA received an adverse comment during the comment period on the direct final rule and parallel proposal, in this action EPA is withdrawing the direct final rule and issuing a final rule based on the notice of proposed rulemaking after considering the comment. ; ; DATES: This final rule revision is effective 24 December 2008 ; ; Contact: ; Ms. J. Kaye Whitfield ; U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Sector Policies and Programs Division, Natural Resources and Commerce Group (E143-03) ; Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 USA ; T: 919-541-2509 ; Fax: 919-541-3470 ; e-mail: whitfield.kaye@epa.gov ; ; Full text at: ; http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-30699.htm ; http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-30699.pdf ;
Distribution date: 14 January 2009
Products Covered: Aerosol spray coatings (HS: 29; ICS: 87.040, 87.060, 71.100, 71.080, 13.020)
Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification
Regulations to Law No. 28376, which prohibits and sanctions the manufacture, importation, distribution and marketing of toxic or hazardous toys and office supplies (22 pages, in Spanish)
Distribution date: 12 January 2009 | Final date for Comment: 22 March 2009
The notified draft technical regulations comprise eleven titles, thirty six articles, five transitional and final supplementary provisions, and six annexes, and cover technical and labelling aspects with a view to regulating the marketing of toys and office supplies.
Products Covered: Toys 9503.00.10.00 Only: Dolls' carriages 9503.00.29.00 Dolls representing human beings, other than those made entirely of textile materials, whether or not stuffed 9503.00.30.00 Reduced size ("scale") models and similar recreational models, working or not 9503.00.40.00 Only: Children's puzzles with less than 500 pieces 9503.00.91.00 Only: Electric trains, including tracks, signals and other accessories, for children 9503.00.92.00 Constructional toys, consisting of pieces to be fitted together, didactic, of various materials 9503.00.93.00 Toys representing animals or non human creatures, other than those made entirely of textile materials, whether or not stuffed 9503.00.94.00 Only: Musical instruments and apparatus, including coloured and decorated whistles of various designs, for children 9503.00.95.00 Other toys, put up in sets or outfits 9503.00.96.00 Other toys, incorporating a motor, for children 9503.00.99.00 Other toys 9506.62.00.00 Only: Inflatable balls, other than regulation sports balls, of various designs and colours, for children 9506.69.00.00 Only: Non inflatable balls, other than regulation sports balls, of various designs and colours, for children 9505.90.00.00 Only: Masks, patterned and decorated, for children 4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): (cont'd) Office supplies 9609.10.00.00 Only: Pencils, single and two colour crayons, patterned and decorated, for children 9609.90.00.00 Only: Wax crayons or pastels, for children 4016.92.00.00 Only: Rubber and PVC erasers, for children 3213.10.10.00 Only: Tempera and watercolours, for children 9608.20.10.00 Only: Felt tipped/marker pens containing water based ink, patterned and decorated, for children 3407.00.10.00 Only: Modelling pastes (plasticine), for children 3506.10.00.00 Only: School glue, for children 9609.20.00.00 Only: Propelling pencils, patterned and decorated, for children 4908.90.90.00 Only: Transfers, of various patterns and designs, for children, including 'tattoos' 4911.99.00.00 Only: Stickers, for children 9608.10.10.00 Only: Dry ink, liquid ink, gel and coloured pens, patterned and decorated, for children 9017.20.30.00 Only: Slide rules and disc calculators, patterned and decorated, for children 3926.10.00.00 Only: School supplies, made of plastic, patterned and decorated, for children
Regulation Type: Regular notification
Listing of Colour Additives Exempt from Certification; Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Labeling; Cochineal Extract and Carmine Declaration, Final Rule
Distribution date: 12 January 2009 | Final date for Comment: 04 February 2009
On 5 January 2009, FDA issued a final rule to require the declaration by name of the colour additives carmine and cochineal extract on all foods and cosmetics. The final rule published in the Federal Register at 74 FR 207 (available in English). Text can be found at: http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/E8-31253.htm. For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/default.htm and insert the Docket No. FDA-1998-P-0032 (formerly Docket Number 1998P-0724) into the "Search" box and follow the prompts. This action is subsequent to a proposed rule published in the Federal Register on 30 January 2006. This notice can be found at: Federal Register: 30 January 2006 (Volume 71, Number 19) Notices Page 4839-4851; http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/E6-1104.htm.
Products Covered:
Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration (FDA), HHS ; ; ACTION: Final rule ; ; TITLE: Listing of Color Additives Exempt From Certification; Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Labeling: Cochineal Extract and Carmine Declaration ; ; SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is revising its requirements for cochineal extract and carmine by requiring their declaration by name on the label of all food and cosmetic products that contain these color additives. This final rule responds to reports of severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, to cochineal extract-containing food and carmine-containing food and cosmetics and will allow consumers who are allergic to these color additives to identify and thus avoid products that contain these color additives. ; ; COMMENT DEADLINE: 4 February 2009 ; ; EFFECTIVE DATE: 9 January 2011 ; ; FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ; Mical Honigfort ; Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-265) ; Food and Drug Administration ; 5100 Paint Branch Parkway ; College Park, MD 20740 USA ; T: 301-436-1278 ; Email: mical.honigfort@fda.hhs.gov ; ; Full text is at: ; http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E8-31253.htm ; http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E8-31253.pdf ;
Distribution date: 12 January 2009
Products Covered: Colour Additives in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics (HS Chapter 3003 and 3304 ) (ICS 11,67, and 71)
Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification
Submit your email ID to receive notifications about upcoming courses and events