Revise agrochemical residue standard

Japan recently issued a circular G/SPS/N/JPN/242 to revise the standards and specifications for food and food additives under the Food Hygiene Law. The maximum residue limits of the agrochemicals Indoxacarb, Esprocarb, Trifloxystrobin, Prosulfocarb, Metaaxyl and Mefenoxam in some agricultural products (15.80, 0.20, 1.28%) were determined. The maximum residue limit of oxadiazole in potato, cabbage and lettuce is 0.2 ppm, 12 ppm and 14 ppm respectively. The maximum residue limit of escarba in brown rice is 0.2 ppm, the maximum residue limit in wheat is 0.05 ppm, and so on.

The proposed approval date of the revised standard is to be determined.

U.S.A

Formulate regulations on pesticide licensing limit

The United States recently issued a circular G/SPS/N/USA/1965, in which the US Environmental Protection Agency formulated the final regulations on the residue licensing limit of the pesticide Pyriproxyfen. According to the regulations, the permissible residue limit of pyrrolidine in leafy vegetables (excluding brassica) is 3.0 ppm; 2.0ppm for root, tuber and leaf vegetables; Asparagus is 2.0 ppm.

The above regulations have been approved.

U.S.A

Revise the regulation on paracoccal pigment

The United States recently issued G/SPS/N/USA/1643/Add 1. It was reported that the US Food and Drug Administration [FDA] published a final regulation on pigment modification. It is allowed to safely use Paracoccus pigment as a color additive for salmon feed. The coccal pigment is composed of non pathogenic and non-toxic stem cells of a kind of bacillus paracoccus carotini bacteria, which can contain increased carbonic acid to regulate the content of astaxanthin. The regulations stipulate that when astaxanthin is used alone or in combination with other astaxanthin dyes, the content of astaxanthin in the finished feed shall not exceed 80mg/kg (72g/t) of the finished feed.

The above regulations have been approved.

european union

Executive Rules on Authorization of Application of Genetically Modified Food and Feed

On January 12, 2010, the European Union issued Circular G/TBT/N/EEC/304, entitled: Implementing Rules on the Authorization of the Application of Genetically Modified Food and Feed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and the draft Commission Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 641/2004 and Regulation (EC) No 1981/2006. It refers to genetically modified plants (GM plants) used for food/feed, food/feed containing or composed of GM plants, and food/feed produced by GM plants.

The draft regulation proposes the enforcement rules on the application of GM food and feed marketing authorization. It specifies the rules for preparation and provision of this application, as well as risk assessment requirements, food and feed after-sales monitoring, detection, identification methods and reference materials stipulated by the GM Food and Feed Regulations 1829/2003.

Proposed approval date of the draft regulation: March 2010. Proposed effective date: June 2010. Deadline for submitting comments: 60 days from the date of notification.

Canada

Develop final MRLs regulations

Canada recently issued several G/SPS/N/CAN/381/Add. 1 and 389/Add 1 The main contents of the notification are as follows: the maximum residue limits of pesticides Clethodim, Fosetyl aluminum, Iprodione, Lambda cyhalothrin and Propylene Oxide stipulated by the Pest Management Agency (PMRA) of the Ministry of Health of Canada have been officially approved. Among them, the maximum residue limit of enooxalone on coriander is 3.0 PPM, and that on gourd is 0.7 PPM; The maximum residue limit of aluminum triethylphosphonate was 15 PPM on the root of sesbania, 10 PPM on onion and 9.0 PPM on citrus; The maximum residue limit of propylene oxide on almonds is 300 PPM, etc.

The above regulations have come into force.