On May 24, Denmark's Høringsportalen posted draft MRL amendments under consideration by the European Union's Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed. These include:

• SANTE/10656/2016 Rev. 1: Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain FZB24, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain MBI 600, Beauveria bassiana strain NPP111B005, Beauveria bassiana strain 147, clayed charcoal, cyclaniliprole, dichlorprop, ethephon, etridiazole, flonicamid, fluazifop-P, hydrogen peroxide, metaldehyde, penconazole, spinetoram, tau-fluvalinate and Urtica spp.
• SANTE/11706/2016 Rev. 2: fenpropidin and pymetrozine

 Relevant proposed MRLs have been added to the Global MRL Database.

Last week, members of BCI’s trade policy and marketing teams visited two California cherry packing facilities to observe their operations during the harvest season.  BCI staff watched as cherries arrived on trucks from the orchards, learned about measures in place to ensure high product quality, and spoke with the industry about their processes.  The team also toured the facilities to view optical sizers and packing lines in action.

On behalf of the California cherry industry, BCI works with the California Cherry Board (CCB) on trade policy and market access issues to ensure smooth shipments to international markets.  BCI also manages the industry’s international marketing program to expand exports of California cherries across the globe.

Pictured from left to right: Adam Hollowell, BCI Trade Policy Specialist; Chiles Wilson, Principal Owner/President of Rivermaid Trading Company, Sarah Gelpi Hooker, BCI Marketing Accounts Manager; and Laura Huerta, BCI Research and Trade Policy Analyst. Not pictured: James Christie, BCI President.

On May 26, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) announced a food additive application concerning the use of thermolysin as an enzyme.

Australia & New Zealand's food additive regulations are included in the International Food Additive Database, although enzymes typically do not fall within the scope of the database. If you are interested in subscribing, please contact BCI for more information.