News & Insights

On January 11, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a reasoned opinion on the modification of the existing MRLs for bentazone in beans and peas with and without pods.

Proposed MRLs from this reasoned opinion will display in the BCGlobal Pesticide MRL Database on January 12, 2021.

The United Kingdom’s (UK) 11-month transition period from the European Union (EU) ended on December 31, 2020. As of January 1, 2021, a new independent food additive regulatory regime operates in Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) and has taken responsibility for its own decisions using its own rules. Any new decisions taken under the EU regime after January 1, 2021, will not apply in Great Britain. Food exports destined for England, Scotland, or Wales must comply with Great Britain’s food additive regulations.    

However, Northern Ireland’s status will remain the same. Under the terms of the UK’s Withdrawal Agreement and Northern Ireland Protocol, the EU regulatory regime continues to apply in Northern Ireland after the end of the transition period. Food exports destined to Northern Ireland must comply with EU food additive regulations.

To accommodate these changes, the following adjustments have been made in the Food Additive Database:

• Great Britain: Market added to the Food Additive Database.
  Displays current EU maximum use levels as they existed on December 31, 2020, but moving forward, will be updated as amended by Great Britain.
• European Union: Should be consulted for Northern Ireland
  The European Union market will continue to display relevant EU food additive levels and should be consulted for requirements for Northern Ireland. 

The United Kingdom’s (UK) 11-month transition period from the European Union (EU) ended on December 31, 2020. As of January 1, 2021, a new independent MRL and contaminant limit regulatory regime operates in Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) and has taken responsibility for its own decisions using its own rules. Any new decisions taken under the EU regime after January 1, 2021, will not apply in Great Britain. Food exports destined for England, Scotland, or Wales must comply with Great Britain’s pesticide and veterinary drug MRL and contaminant limit regulations.    

However, Northern Ireland’s status will remain the same. Under the terms of the UK’s Withdrawal Agreement and Northern Ireland Protocol, the EU regulatory regime continues to apply in Northern Ireland after the end of the transition period. Food exports destined to Northern Ireland must comply with EU pesticide and veterinary drug MRL and contaminant limit regulations.

To accommodate these changes, the following adjustments have been made in BCGlobal:

• United Kingdom: Market removed from BCGlobal.
• Great Britain: Market added to BCGlobal.
  Displays current EU MRLs and contaminant limits as they existed on December 31, 2020, but moving forward, will be updated as amended by Great Britain.
• Northern Ireland: Market added to BCGlobal. 
  Displays a deferral to EU MRLs and contaminant limits and will be updated as amended by the EU.  

Subscriptions and custom settings, such as Saved Queries or MRL Change Notifications, with the United Kingdom will automatically be replaced by the markets Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Recently, the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service published Food and Agricultural Regulations and Standards (FAIRS) reports for Argentina, the Bahamas, Myanmar, Egypt, India, Tanzania, Haiti, Spain, Lithuania, France, Kenya, and the Dominican Republic. 

The BCGlobal Food Additive Database includes maximum use level regulations for over 850 additives in more than 70 countries worldwide, including Argentina, India, the European Union, and the Dominican Republic. Please contact BCI for more information on subscribing.

The BCGlobal Pesticide MRL Database currently displays relevant established and proposed MRLs for Argentina, the Bahamas, Egypt, Myanmar, India, Tanzania, the European Union, Haiti, Kenya, and the Dominican Republic. The BCGlobal Vet Drug MRL Database currently displays relevant established and proposed MRLs for Argentina, Myanmar, Egypt, India, the EU, Kenya, and the Dominican Republic.

After the January 31, 2020, withdrawal from the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom’s (UK) 11-month transition period ends on December 31, 2020.As of January 1, 2021, Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) will operate food additive regulations independently from the EU. Any new decisions taken by the EU will not automatically apply in Great Britain. However, Northern Ireland will continue to apply EU policies under the terms of the United Kingdom's Withdrawal Agreement and Northern Ireland Protocol. EU food additive regulations will continue to apply in Northern Ireland after the end of the transition period. 

In order to accommodate these changes, the BCGlobal Food Additive Database will adjust its markets to include both Great Britain and the European Union.

• Great Britain: The Food Additive Database will display EU food additive regulations as they existed on December 31, 2020, but will be changed as amended by Great Britain moving forward from January 1, 2021. 
• European Union: The Food Additive Database will display food additive regulations and should be consulted for requirements for Northern Ireland. 

On December 15, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a reasoned opinion on the focused assessment of certain existing MRLs of concern for methoxyfenozide. 

Proposed MRLs from this reasoned opinion will display in the BCGlobal Pesticide MRL Database on December 17, 2020.

On December 8, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a reasoned opinion on the evaluation of confirmatory data following the Article 12 MRL review and setting of an import tolerance for flutriafol in cucurbits (inedible peel).;

Proposed MRLs from this reasoned opinion will display in the BCGlobal Pesticide MRL Database on December 13, 2020.

On December 4, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a reasoned opinion on the review of the existing MRLs for quinoxyfen.

Proposed MRLs from this reasoned opinion will display in the BCGlobal Pesticide MRL Database on December 8, 2020.

On December 3, the European Union published Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/1819 amending its food additive regulations. The amendment will apply from December 23, 2020.

The European Union's food additive regulations are included in the BCGlobal Food Additive Database, which will be updated upon the effective date of the amendment. If you are interested in subscribing, please contact BCI.

The European Union recently published SANTE/12108/2020 Rev. 0 proposing MRLs for amisulbrom, flubendiamide, meptyldinocap, metaflumizone, and propineb.

Relevant proposed MRL changes will be available in the  BCGlobal Pesticide MRL Database by December 3, 2020.