News & Insights

Recently, the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service published Food and Agricultural Regulations and Standards (FAIRS) reports for the United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Israel, Kazakhstan, and Taiwan.

The BCGlobal Food Additive Database includes maximum use level regulations for over 850 additives in more than 70 countries worldwide, including the EU, Taiwan, and Great Britain. Please contact BCI for more information on subscribing.

The BCGlobal Pesticide MRL Database currently displays relevant established and proposed MRLs for the Czech Republic, Israel, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, and Great Britain. The BCGlobal Vet Drug MRL Database currently displays relevant established and proposed MRLs for the Czech Republic, Israel, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, and Great Britain.

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.

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) recently announced proposed MRL changes for several active ingredients. These changes were reported via the United States Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service.

Relevant Proposed MRLs will be available in the BCGlobal Pesticide MRL Database and BCGlobal Vet Drug Database by January 8, 2021.

On January 6, Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) notified the WTO of adopted MRLs for trinexapac-ethyl.

Relevant amended MRLs will be available in the BCGlobal Pesticide MRL Database on January 7, 2021.

On December 23, Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) published Advance Notice 2020-577 and Advance Notice 2020-578 (in Korean) proposing revisions to their food regulations, including numerous MRL changes.

Relevant proposed MRLs will be added to the BCGlobal Pesticide MRL Database by January 8, 2021. 

On December 23, Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) published Notice No. 2020-128 (link in Korean) revising their food regulations, including numerous pesticide and veterinary drug MRL changes.

MRL changes from this amendment will appear in the BCGlobal Pesticide MRL Database and BCGlobal Vet Drug MRL Database on January 7, 2021.

Argentina recently published an updated July 2020 version of its MRL list associated with Resolution 934/2010.

Relevant MRL changes from the updated MRL list will display in the BCGlobal Pesticide MRL Database on January 7, 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 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.

Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently notified the WTO of adopted MRLs for oxathiapiprolin and halauxifen-methyl.

Relevant amended MRLs will be available in the BCGlobal Pesticide MRL Database on January 6, 2021.

The European Economic Area (EEA) recently updated its agreement on veterinary and phytosanitary matters, including updates to EU MRL Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. EU MRL amendments apply to Norway, Iceland, and Lichtenstein once accepted to the EEA.

The following EU amendment is now applicable:

• Reg. (EU) 2020/192

Relevant changes for Norway and Iceland will appear in the BCGlobal Pesticide MRL Database on January 5, 2021.