Regulatory Updates

Distribution date: 27 June 2008

Thailand SPS notification # G/SPS/N/THA/142 entitled "Certificate of origin and health requirements for importation of live carps, Cyprinus carpio, and their gametes into Thailand for culture purpose" shall be repealed and replaced by this emergency notification: According to the current Office International des Epizooties (OIE) Aquatic Manual for koi herpes virus (KHV) diagnosis, Department of Fisheries (DOF) has re-accessed the risk of importation and import requirement for importation of live koi carp or common carp, Cyprinus carpio, into the Kingdom of Thailand. The control regulation for trans-boundary movement of aquatic animal diseases using quarantine measures on imports of koi carp or common carp is as follows: - Pre-importation: facilities of Thai aquatic animal farms or companies have to achieve the quarantine standard of the DOF before receiving an import permit. - Arrival of aquatic animals at the port: the imported animals must be accompanied with Certificate of Origin and Health. The fish will be subjected to quarantine at the certified quarantine areas of the importing farms or companies. - Post-importation: aquatic animals will be quarantined for at least 21 days. Fish health inspectors will examine the animals for diseases listed in the OIE, KHV and Spring viraemia of carp virus (SVCV) and other contagious pathogens. Certificate of Origin and Health shall certify as follows: A health certificate must be presented at the port of entry together with the aquatic animal shipment. The health certificate must be issued by competent authority, signed by veterinarian or authorised officer and contained information as follows: . Name and address of exporter . Name and address of destination/importer . Name (scientific and common name), size and number of imported common carp or koi carp. . Origin of the common carp or koi carp to be exported. . The common carp or koi carp must come from a country, a zone or a farm establishment where they are submitted to a health supervision set up to operate according to the procedures described in the Diagnostic Manual for Aquatic Animal Diseases from OIE and that this country, zone, or farm establishment is recognized officially unaffected by the KHV and SVCV or OIE listed diseases. . The exported animals must not come from the sources that had an unusual mortality, which the causation could not be explained, during the previous 3 months. . Before exportation, the common carp and koi carp must be quarantined for 7-10 days and treated with chemicals to remove all external parasites. . The model Health Certificate for live fish suggested by the OIE that covered the KHV and SVCV certification shall be used.

Products Covered: Live koi fish (color carp or fancy carp) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Regulation Type: Revision to Emergency Notification (SPS)

Distribution date: 27 June 2008

Products Covered: Calcium chloride (HS: 2827.20.00; ICS: 71.00)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 26 June 2008

The notified regulation approves the Technical Regulation of Sanitary and Technologic Inspection of Animal By-Products Processing and the By-Products Transport Form.

Products Covered: Animal by-products

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 24 June 2008

Products Covered: Insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, herbicides, disinfectants, etc. (HS:  38.08)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 24 June 2008

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing that certain ingredients in over-the-counter (OTC) drug products are not generally recognized as safe and effective (GRASE) or are misbranded. FDA is proposing that any OTC drug product containing any of these ingredients must be the subject of an approved NDA (New Drug Application).

Products Covered: Drug products (HS:  3004, 1302.19) (ICS:  11.120)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 16 June 2008

The notified draft technical regulations comprise seven (7) sections, seventy (70) articles, two (2) final supplementary provisions, one (1) transitional supplementary provision and six (6) annexes, covering regulatory aspects and procedures in respect of the control and monitoring of methyl alcohol and provisions relating to the labelling of methyl alcohol.

Products Covered: Methanol (methyl alcohol) (HS 2905.11.00.00)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 29 May 2008

To establish sanitation standard for butane to be used in food.

Products Covered: Propane to be used in food

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 19 May 2008

The California Air Resources Board proposes to amend the California rules concerning volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from consumer products. Adds and modifies product category definitions and establishes new or lower VOC limits for multiple categories. Reduces the use of compounds with high global warming potential in pressurized gas duster products. Proposes to exclude hydrofluoroether 7200 from the VOC definition based on its negligible impacts on ground-level ozone formation. Prohibits the use of toxic air contaminants methylene chloride, perchloroethylene, and trichloroethylene in carpet/upholstery cleaners, fabric protectants, multi-purpose lubricants, penetrants, sealants, caulking compounds and spot removers.

Products Covered: Consumer products (HS:  3402, 13.020, 71.100)

Regulation Type: Regular notification

Distribution date: 19 May 2008

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply proposed amendments to the Annexes I, II, VI and VII of the Normative Instruction Nº 5, notified on 22 March 2007 as G/SPS/N/BRA/300 (definitions and norms for specification, guarantee, tolerance, register, packaging and labelling of mineral fertilizers used in agriculture), published as Normative Instruction Nº 21, on 16 April 2008, in the "Diário Oficial da União" Nº 74 (Federal Official Journal) on 17 April 2008, section 1, pages 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28. Date of entry into force: 17 April 2008 The full text is available only in Portuguese and can be downloaded at: http://extranet.agricultura.gov.br/sislegis-consulta/consultarLegislacao.do?operacao=visualizar&id=18587 E-mail: cgomc@agricultura.gov.br

Products Covered:

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 28 April 2008

Products Covered: Water treatment chemicals—polyacrylamide, HS: 2921.1990.90

Regulation Type: Regular notification