News & Insights

BCI daily tracks changing global chemical, additive & ingredient food standards. Last year, BCI’s reg intelligence team tracked over 2300 foreign technical regulations—well over 9 a day.

In recent weeks, BCI participated in Codex standard setting meetings in China, so our database subscribers will have the most current info at their fingertips.

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On June 12, the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) published a report on Ethiopia's food and agriculture import regulations.

Details on food additive and pesticide regulations are included in the report.

On June 13, 2014, the U.S. Federal Register published a notice of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standard-setting activities of Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC). The notice includes information on SPS standards being considered as well as the agenda for U.S. participation in Codex activities.  The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is accepting comments on standards under consideration and recommendations for new standards.  

The 37th Session of the CAC will take place July 14-18, 2014 in Geneva, Switzerland.  Agenda items discussed will include draft food additive amendments recommended in March by the 46^th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) and draft pesticide maximum residue level (MRL) amendments recommended by the 46^th Session of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR) held in May 2014.

The International Food Additive Database  and MRLDatabase.com will be updated to reflect any new or revised standards after they are adopted at the CAC meeting.

This month, the Philippines's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a draft version of its Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 10611 (Food Safety Act of 2013).

The 2013 Food Safety Act, adopted in August 2013 and notified to the WTO in December, establishes general food safety standards and includes sections pertaining to the regulation of food additives and pesticides.  These Implementing Rules and Regulations are designed to strengthen compliance with provisions of the Food Safety Act. 

The Philippines's food additive use regulations are included in the International Food Additive Database.

For pesticide MRLs, the Philippines currently defers to the International Codex Alimentarius standard.  This information can be viewed at www.mrldatabase.com. 

On May 20, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) released The 2011 European Union Report on Pesticides in Food. The report covers control activities pertaining to pesticide residues in food during 2011 throughout 29 European countries. A dietary risk assessment on pears was also included in the report, illustrating the significance of MRL regulation and monitoring.  

On April 30, 2014, the U.S. Federal Register published a notice of a public meeting sponsored by the USDA to provide information and receive comments on draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the 37^th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC).  The public meeting will be held on June 18, 2014, and written comments may be submitted in advance.

The 37th Session of the CAC will take place July 14-18, 2014 in Geneva, Switzerland.  Agenda items discussed will include draft food additive amendments recommended in March by the 46^th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) and any draft pesticide maximum residue level (MRL) amendments recommended by the 46^th Session of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR), which will be held May 5-10, 2014 in Nanjing, China.

The International Food Additive Database  and MRLDatabase.com will be updated to reflect any new or revised standards after they are adopted at the CAC meeting.

On December 20, 2013, the Philippines's Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Health (DOH) notified the WTO of its Food Safety Act of 2013 (Republic Act 10611).   The act was adopted on August 23, 2013 and includes sections pertaining to the regulation of food additives and pesticides.

This regulation and its corresponding Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) will enter into force on July 1, 2014.

The Philippines's food additive use regulations are included in the International Food Additive Database. 

For pesticide MRLs, the Philippines currently defers to the International Codex Alimentarius standard.  This information can be viewed at www.mrldatabase.com. 

On November 20, 2013, the U.S. FDA extended the comment period for a proposal regarding foreign supplier verification programs (FSVPs) for food importers.  The proposal would require imported food to be produced in a manner providing the same level of public health protection as required by the U.S.'s Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act).  The proposed regulations also include a required hazard analysis by importers to identify naturally-occurring or unintentionally introduced pesticide residues and food additives that may be found in their products.   

This proposal was originally published in the Federal Register on July 29, 2013.  The new comment deadline is January 27, 2014.

The United States' pesticide MRLs can be found in www.MRLDatabase.com; the U.S. is not currently included in the International Food Additive Database.

On October 15, 2013, the WTO published a notification from the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), which includes an Appendix listing all standards adopted by the 36^th Session of the CAC.  These include revised provisions for food additives and MRLs for pesticides.  The International Food Additive Database and www.MRLDatabase.com were updated with the new Codex standards when the CAC published its 2013 Annual Report in August.

On August 23, 2013, the Philippines adopted a new piece of food safety legislation, the Food Safety Law of 2013 (Republic Act No. 10611). This law establishes general food safety standards and includes sections relating to the regulation of pesticide residues and the use of food additives.   

The Philippines's food additive use regulations are included in the International Food Additive Database.

For pesticide MRLs, the Philippines currently defers to the international Codex Alimentarius standard. This information can be viewed in www.mrldatabase.com.