Notifications for European Union (1104 notifications)
NOTIFICATION1.Notifying Member: European UnionIf applicable, name of local government involved:2.Agency responsible: European Commission, Health and Consumers Directorate-General3.Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable): Cereals (HS Codes: 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 1005, 1006, 1007, 1008), foodstuffs of animal origin (HS Codes: 0201, 0202, 0203, 0204, 0205, 0206, 0207, 0208, 0209, 0210) and certain products of plant origin, including fruit and vegetables.4.Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:[X] All trading partners[ ] Specific regions or countries:5.Title of the notified document: Draft Commission Regulation (EU) amending Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for chlordecone in or on certain products (Text with EEA relevance) Language(s): English. Number of pages: 10https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/EEC/20_4374_00_e.pdfhttps://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/EEC/20_4374_01_e.pdf6.Description of content: The proposed draft Regulation concerns the review of the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the substance chlordecone. MRLs for this substance are lowered. Lower MRLs are set to reflect the current monitoring data on the occurrence of chlordecone in the EU due to the use of this persistent compound in the past.7.Objective and rationale: [X] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, [ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from other damage from pests.8.Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex standard or related text)[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic Animal Health Code, chapter number)[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)[X] NoneDoes this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?[ ] Yes [ ] NoIf no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the international standard:9.Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:"Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 February 2005 on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin and amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC"http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32005R0396"Statement on the dietary exposure assessment for the temporary maximum residue levels for chlordecone in certain products of animal origin (EFSA, 2020)"https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2020.6052(available in English)10.Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy): January 2021.Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy): February 2021.11.Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication, and/or (dd/mm/yy): August 2021[ ] Trade facilitating measure12.Final date for comments: [X] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification and/or (dd/mm/yy): 14 September 2020Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:European CommissionDG Health and Food Safety, Unit D2 - Multilateral international relationsRue Froissart 101B 1049 BrusselsTel: +(322) 295 4263Fax: +(322) 299 8090E-mail: sps@ec.europa.eu13.Text(s) available from: [X] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:European CommissionDG Health and Food Safety, Unit D2 - Multilateral international relationsRue Froissart 101B 1049 BrusselsTel: +(322) 295 4263Fax: +(322) 299 8090E-mail: sps@ec.europa.eu
NOTIFICATION1.Notifying Member: European UnionIf applicable, name of local government involved:2.Agency responsible: European Commission, Health and Consumers Directorate-General3.Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable): Cereals (HS Codes: 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 1005, 1006, 1007, 1008), foodstuffs of animal origin (HS Codes: 0201, 0202, 0203, 0204, 0205, 0206, 0207, 0208, 0209, 0210) and certain products of plant origin, including fruit and vegetables.4.Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:[X] All trading partners[ ] Specific regions or countries:5.Title of the notified document: Draft Commission Regulation amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for acequinocyl, cycloxydim, diclofop, fluopyram, ipconazole and terbuthylazine in or on certain products (Text with EEA relevance) Language(s): English. Number of pages: 34https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/EEC/20_4372_00_e.pdfhttps://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/EEC/20_4372_01_e.pdfhttps://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/EEC/20_4372_02_e.pdfhttps://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/EEC/20_4372_03_e.pdfhttps://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/EEC/20_4372_04_e.pdf6.Description of content: The proposed draft Regulation concerns the review of existing MRLs for acequinocyl, cycloxydim, diclofop, fluopyram, ipconazole and terbuthylazine in certain food commodities. MRLs for these substances in certain commodities are changed: either increased or lowered. Lower MRLs are set after updating the limits of determination and/or deleting old uses which are not authorised any more in the European Union or for which a human health concern may not be excluded. The residue definition for some substances has also been updated7.Objective and rationale: [X] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, [ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from other damage from pests.8.Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex standard or related text)Codex Maximum Residue Limits for cycloxydim and fluopyram. The list of Codex MRLs is available at: http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/pestres/pesticides/en/[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic Animal Health Code, chapter number)[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)[ ] NoneDoes this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?[ ] Yes [X] NoIf no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the international standard:The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a reasoned opinion on the review of the existing maximum residue levels for fluopyram. EFSA identified a possible chronic risk to consumers if all available CXLs were maintained. Therefore, the CXLs which were higher than the derived EU MRL were disregarded. EU MRLs for oranges, lemons, limes, tree nuts, wine grapes, currants (red, black and white), gooseberries, rose hips, potatoes, spring onions, sweet peppers/bell peppers, aubergines/eggplants, basil, beans (without pods), peas (without pods), beans (dry), lentils (dry), peanuts, soyabean, rice, rye, swine (muscle, fat tissue, liver, kidney), bovine (muscle, fat tissue, liver, kidney), sheep (muscle, fat tissue, liver, kidney), goat (muscle, fat tissue, liver, kidney), equine (muscle, fat tissue, liver, kidney), milk (cattle, sheep, goat, horse) and birds eggs have been lowered and do not correspond to CXLs.The proposed regulation conforms to the relevant international standard for cycloxydim.9.Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:"Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 February 2005 on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin and amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC"http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32005R0396"European Food Safety Authority; Reasoned opinion on the review of the existing maximum residue levels for acequinocyl according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. EFSA Journal 2020; 18(1): 5983."https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/5983"European Food Safety Authority; Reasoned opinion on the review of the existing maximum residue levels for cycloxydim according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. EFSA Journal 2020; 18(1): 5962."https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/5962"European Food Safety Authority; Reasoned opinion on the review of the existing maximum residue levels for diclofop according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. EFSA Journal 2020; 18(1): 5981."https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/5981" European Food Safety Authority; Reasoned opinion on the review of the existing maximum residue levels for fluopyram according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. EFSA Journal 2020; 18(4): 6059."https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/6059"European Food Safety Authority; Reasoned opinion on the review of the existing maximum residue levels for ipconazole according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. EFSA Journal 2020; 18(1): 5961."https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/5961"European Food Safety Authority; Reasoned opinion on the review of the existing maximum residue levels for terbuthylazine according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No /2005. EFSA Journal 2020; 18(1): 5980."https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/5980(available in English)10.Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy): September 2020.Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy): October 2020.11.Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication, and/or (dd/mm/yy): Twenty days after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.[ ] Trade facilitating measure12.Final date for comments: [X] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification and/or (dd/mm/yy): 7 September 2020Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:European CommissionDG Health and Food Safety, Unit D2 - Multilateral international relationsRue Froissart 101B 1049 BrusselsTel: +(322) 295 4263Fax: +(322) 299 8090E-mail: sps@ec.europa.eu13.Text(s) available from: [X] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:European CommissionDG Health and Food Safety, Unit D2 - Multilateral international relationsRue Froissart 101B 1049 BrusselsTel: +(322) 295 4263Fax: +(322) 299 8090E-mail: sps@ec.europa.eu[1] In English only.
The proposed draft Regulation concerns the review of existing MRLs for fluxapyroxad, hymexazol, metamitron, penflufen and spirotetramat in certain food commodities. MRLs for these substances in certain commodities are changed: either increased or lowered. Lower MRLs are set after updating the limits of determination and/or deleting old uses which are not authorised any more in the European Union or for which a human health concern may not be excluded. The residue definition for some substances has also been updated.
The measure concerns authorising the placing on the market of infusion from coffee leaves of Coffea arabica L. and/or Coffea canephora Pierre ex A. Froehner as a traditional food from a third country.
The proposed draft Regulation concerns the review of existing MRLs for benalaxyl, benalaxyl-M, dichlobenil, fluopicolide, proquinazid and pyridalyl in certain food commodities. MRLs for these substances in certain commodities are changed: either increased or lowered. Lower MRLs are set after updating the limits of determination and/or deleting old uses which are not authorised any more in the European Union or for which a human health concern may not be excluded. The residue definition for some substances has also been updated.
The proposed draft Regulation concerns the review of the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the substances carbon tetrachloride, chlorothalonil, chlorpropham, dimethoate, ethoprophos, fenamidone, methiocarb, omethoate, propiconazole and pymetrozine. MRLs for these substances are lowered. Lower MRLs are set after updating the limits of determination and/or deleting old uses which are not authorised any more in the European Union or for which a human health concern may not be excluded.
The measure concerns authorising the extension of use of a novel food xylo-oligosaccharides in food supplements for the general adult population.
The revision aims at adapting the Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs to new trends and priorities related to food safety that emerged at EU and global level. In particular: 1. There is a need to introduce preventive measures to avoid cross-contamination by allergens in food. Food allergies are an increasing food safety issue in the EU and globally and have emerged as a major public and personal health burden. 2. Facilitating food donation is a mean of preventing food waste and promoting food security, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Food donations. Since redistributing of food for donations might be accompanied by certain hazards, it requires additional general food safety measures as identified in the 2018 EFSA "Second scientific opinion on hazard analysis approaches for certain small retail establishments and food donations". 3. There is increasing evidence of enhanced food safety by introducing a food safety culture in food businesses, making staff aware of the importance of being engaged in the safe production of food.
The proposal notified in G/SPS/N/EU/367 (21 February 2020) was adopted as Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/771 of 11 June 2020 amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council and the Annex to Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 as regards the use of Annatto, Bixin, Norbixin (E 160b) (Text with EEA relevance) [OJ L 184, 12 June 2020, p.25].This Regulation will enter into force on 2 July 2020.
The proposal notified in G/SPS/N/EU/302 (30 January 2019) was adopted as Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/749 of 4 June 2020 amending Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for chlorate in or on certain products (Text with EEA relevance) [OJ L 178, 8 June 2020, p.7]. This Regulation will enter into force on 28 June 2020.
The proposal notified in G/SPS/N/EU/332 (16 July 2019) was adopted as Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/703 of 26 May 2020 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for dimethoate and omethoate in or on cherries (Text with EEA relevance) [OJ L 164, 27 May 2020, p.1]. This Regulation shall apply from 16 December 2020.
The draft Regulation introduces new measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.). It repeals current Decision (EU) 2015/789. Chapter VIII of the draft Regulation sets up updated measures for the introduction into the Union of host plants. -Article 28 - Introduction into the Union of host plants originating in a third country where the specified pest is known not to be present; -Article 29 - Introduction into the Union of host plants originating in a pest free area; -Article 30 - Introduction into the Union of host plants originating in a pest free production site; -Article 31 – Authorisation of production sites as pest free. Major points to be highlighted: -An updated list of host plants regulated for movement into the Union is available in Annex I. -A list of diagnostic protocols accepted by the EU for the identification of Xylella fastidiosa on host plants moved into the Union is available in Annex IV. -From 2023 onwards, the pest free status of the exporting countries shall be determined with a minimum level of confidence and design prevalence, in line with relevant International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures and taking into account the Guidelines of the European Food Safety Authority for statistically sound and risk-based surveys of Xylella fastidiosa.
Temporary flexibility option for control authorities to use electronic information for checks, in view of the COVID-19 situation and prolongation of the measure notified under G/SPS/N/EU/380.
The proposal notified in G/SPS/N/EU/329 (3 July 2019) was adopted as Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 of 30 January 2020 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rules for entry into the Union, and the movement and handling after entry of consignments of certain animals, germinal products and products of animal origin (Text with EEA relevance) [OJ L 174, 3 June 2020, p.379].This Regulation shall apply from 21 April 2021.
The text aims at updating the current specifications for the food additive titanium dioxide (E 171) in the Annex to Regulation (EU) No 231/2012, in line with the conclusions and the recommendations of the re-evaluation of the safety of this food additive by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), as well as a later EFSA scientific opinion on the specifications for E 171 with respect to its particle size characteristics. The main proposed amendment to the current specifications for the food additive titanium dioxide (E 171) concerns the inclusion of particle size parameters, which are specific for titanium dioxide used as a food additive. In addition, the definition of the food additive titanium dioxide (E 171) in the current specifications is amended to remove the option for its coating with silica and/or alumina, since according to the information provided by business operators titanium dioxide used as a food additive does not have coatings or surface treatments. Moreover, new technically achievable limits for the impurities of lead, mercury, cadmium and antimony in titanium dioxide (E171) are included, which are lower than the current limits.
The proposal notified in G/SPS/N/EU/369 (24 February 2020) was adopted as Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/685 of 20 May 2020 amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as regards maximum levels of perchlorate in certain foods (Text with EEA relevance) [OJ L 160, 25 May 2020, p.3]. This Regulation shall apply from 1 July 2020.
This draft Commission Implementing Regulation provides that the approval of the active substance benalaxyl is not renewed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009. EU Member States shall withdraw authorisations for plant protection products containing benalaxyl as an active substance. The non-renewal of approval is based on the first evaluation of the substance for use as a pesticide active substance in the EU under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009. The substance was formerly assessed and approved under Directive 91/414/ EEC.This decision only concerns the placing on the market of this substance and plant protection products containing it. Following non-approval and the expiry of all grace periods for stocks of products containing this substance, separate action will likely be taken on MRLs and a separate notification will be made in accordance with SPS procedures.
Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 lays down rules concerning the temporary increase of official controls at the entry into the Union on certain food and feed of non-animal origin from certain third countries listed in Annex I to that Regulation and special import conditions for certain food and feed from certain third countries due to the risk of contamination by aflatoxins, pesticide residues, pentachlorophenol and dioxins and microbiological contamination, listed in Annex II to that Regulation (e.g. increased official controls and official certificate accompanied by the results of sampling and analysis in the third country).This Implementing Regulation amends Annexes I and II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 by introducing the following changes: -new listings in Annex I for increased official controls for oranges, mandarins, clementines, wilkings and similar citrus hybrids from Turkey, due to possible pesticide residues contamination, and of spice mixes from Pakistan, due to possible aflatoxin contamination; -increase in the frequency of identity and physical checks laid down in Annex I for beans from Kenya and dried grapes and pomegranates from Turkey; -deletion from Annex I and new listing in Annex II of Sesamum seeds from Sudan and Uganda and of peppers (other than sweet) from India and Pakistan; -deletion from Annex II and inclusion in Annex I of curry leaves from India; -deletion from Annex I of raspberries from Serbia, dried apricots and apricots, otherwise prepared or preserved from Turkey and lemons from Turkey. -All the product descriptions in Annexes I and II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 are amended to cover both raw and processed Sesamum seeds. -All entries in Annexes I and II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 concerning groundnuts are amended to include groundnut flours and meals. -all the entries concerning groundnuts in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 are amended to include oilcake and other solid residues, whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of groundnut oil. -The Combined Nomenclature (CN) codes indicated for peppers of the Capsicum species (sweet or other than sweet) from Sri Lanka and India respectively and for apricots, otherwise prepared or preserved from Uzbekistan are modified in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793, in order to ensure consistency with the description for these commodities in Annexes I and II to that Regulation. In addition, this Implementing Regulation incorporates the provisions of Implementing Decision 2014/88/EU and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/94 on the suspension of imports of foodstuffs containing or consisting of betel leaves originating in or consigned from Bangladesh and of dried beans originating from Nigeria, respectively. As a result of this consolidation, Implementing Decision 2014/88/EU and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/94 are repealed and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 no longer provide for an end of the period of validity of the said measures.