Global Food

Brazil revises import licensing standards for plant species and their products and by-products

On January 14, 2021, Brazil notified the WTO of the draft directive (G/SPS/N/BRA/1876), which revised the import licensing standards of plant species, their products, and by-products, Article 2, paragraph 7, and Article 6, paragraph 8, the standard will take effect on February 1, 2021. For details, check:http://spsims.wto.org/en/RegularNotifications/View/169917?FromAllNotifications=True  Business Division of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance of Global Foodmate provides food standards & regulations research, labelling compliance consulting/Chinese label design, industry public opinion monitoring and analysis, registration services (of Infant formula, FSMP, Health food, Novel Food Ingredients, Novel Food Additives, New Varieties of Food-Related Products and Overseas manufacturers of imported food) and other comprehensive food safety solutions for domestic and overseas enterprises and institutions in food industry.  Please feel free to contact us: +86 10 68869850, E-mail: global_info@foodmate.net

UK Announces Procedure for Authorization of New FCMs

The United Kingdom (UK) has issued a guidance on authorizing food contact materials (FCMs) now that it has exited from the European Union (EU). The Food contact materials authorisation guidance, published by UK’s Food Standards Agency on December 31, 2020, outlines the procedure for authorizing new FCMs to be placed on the market in Great Britain (GB).* The guidance refers to several retained EU regulations and a directive (shown below) and points out that: “For most regulated product types, once products or processes are authorised, they are listed in relevant legislation, which also sets out how they can be used. These lists are referred to as positive lists.” Regulation 10/2011 for plastic monomers and additives Regulation 450/2009 for active/intelligent materials Regulation 282/2008 for recycled plastic processes Directive 2007/42/EC for regenerated cellulose film Food contact substances on the positive lists under the Plastics Regulation and the Directive for regenerated cellulose film that were authorized by the European Commission (EC) before January 1, 2021, will not need to be reauthorized by UK authorities to be placed on the market in GB. However, if a FCM application was submitted to EU authorities before January 1, 2021, and the applications process has not been completed (e.g., a petitioned monomer/additive has not yet been added to the Plastics Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011 by that date), then a new application will need to be submitted to the UK Food Standards Agency. If a European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) opinion was published for that food contact substance, then the submitter should include the EFSA question number when completing the application form for authorization in GB. Since positive lists for active/intelligent materials and recycled plastics have not been established in EU legislation, these products may be placed on the market in GB if they meet the requirements of GB’s General Food Law Regulations and any general criteria in FCM legislation. The guidance explains how to apply for authorization of new FCMs. Concerning the development of dossiers, the detailed guidance previously developed by EFSA remains relevant since the GB approach is based on EU processes. UK authorities foresee that their risk assessment (safety evaluation of a substance) and risk management (publication of an amendment to the GB legislation, i.e., the retained EU law) will take up to 15 months. *Even though Northern Ireland is part of the UK, the procedure for new authorizations for FCMs to be placed on the market in Northern Ireland will continue to follow EU rules based on the requirements in the Northern Ireland Protocol, which is part of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement of October 17, 2019.  Business Division of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance of Global Foodmate provides food standards & regulations research, labelling compliance consulting/Chinese label design, industry public opinion monitoring and analysis, registration services (of Infant formula, FSMP, Health food, Novel Food Ingredients, Novel Food Additives, New Varieties of Food-Related Products and Overseas manufacturers of imported food) and other comprehensive food safety solutions for domestic and overseas enterprises and institutions in food industry.  Please feel free to contact us: +86 10 68869850, E-mail: global_info@foodmate.net  

Shrimp exports become the highlight of Vietnam's aquaculture industry

In 2020, Vietnam’s aquatic product exports reached 8.6 billion U.S. dollars, of which shrimp exports were 3.78 billion U.S. dollars, a year-on-year increase of 12.4%. According to this, despite the ups and downs due to the epidemic in the year, shrimp exports will still become the highlight of the aquaculture industry in 2020. 　　 According to the Vietnam Aquatic Products Processing and Export Association (VASEP), although the Covid-19 epidemic has spread complexly throughout the world, especially the shrimp import and supply markets, Vietnam's shrimp export activities are still proceeding well. Especially at the end of the year, there was a pleasing contrarian reversal trend. 　　 The U.S. is Vietnam’s largest and most stable shrimp export market in 2020, accounting for 23.5% of total exports. Although the United States is the country most severely affected by the Covid-19 epidemic in the world, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the country have achieved positive growth in the first 11 months of 2020, with exports amounting to US$806.6 million, a year-on-year increase of 34%. 　　 The EU is Vietnam’s fourth largest shrimp export market, second only to the United States, Japan and China, accounting for 13.7%. It is worth noting that Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the European Union declined continuously from March to June, and rebounded in July and August. Specifically, in July 2020, the export value was 54.2 million US dollars, an increase of 2% from the previous month. The export value in August was 394.6 million US dollars, an increase of 12% year-on-year and an increase of 7.2% month-on-month. This depends on the positive impact of EVFTA that will take effect in August 2020. 　　 After Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China achieved double-digit growth in September and October 2020, they fell 21% in November to US$42.8 million. In the first 11 months of 2020, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China reached 496.8 million US dollars, an increase of 0.8% year-on-year. 　　 Since the beginning of 2020, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to ASEAN have been volatile. It achieved positive growth from February to April 2020, and declined in the remaining months. Vietnam's shrimp exports to Cambodia have risen sharply year-on-year.  Please note: This article is translated based on Google web translation software, if there is an error, please contact us as soon as possible to correct. Business Division of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance of Global Foodmate provides food standards & regulations research, labelling compliance consulting/Chinese label design, industry public opinion monitoring and analysis, registration services (of Infant formula, FSMP, Health food, Novel Food Ingredients, Novel Food Additives, New Varieties of Food-Related Products and Overseas manufacturers of imported food) and other comprehensive food safety solutions for domestic and overseas enterprises and institutions in food industry.  Please feel free to contact us: +86 10 68869850, E-mail: global_info@foodmate.net

Hong Kong | Import of poultry meat and products from areas in India, France and Poland suspended

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced on January 21 that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and Polish Veterinary Inspection Service respectively about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in India, France and Poland, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong. Business Division of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance of Global Foodmate provides food standards & regulations research, labelling compliance consulting/Chinese label design, industry public opinion monitoring and analysis, registration services (of Infant formula, FSMP, Health food, Novel Food Ingredients, Novel Food Additives, New Varieties of Food-Related Products and Overseas manufacturers of imported food) and other comprehensive food safety solutions for domestic and overseas enterprises and institutions in food industry.  Please feel free to contact us: +86 10 68869850, E-mail: global_info@foodmate.net

The National People's Congress issued a catalogue of current effective laws (274 pieces)

On January 18th, the National People's Congress released a list of current effective laws, including 274 laws including Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, Agricultural Products Quality Safety Law of the People's Republic of China and Enterprise Income Tax Law of the People's Republic of China. 1月18日，全国人民代表大会发布现行有效法律目录，包括《中华人民共和国食品安全法》、《中华人民共和国农产品质量安全法》、《中华人民共和国企业所得税法》等共274件法律。 Business Division of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance of Global Foodmate provides food standards & regulations research, labelling compliance consulting/Chinese label design, industry public opinion monitoring and analysis, registration services (of Infant formula, FSMP, Health food, Novel Food Ingredients, Novel Food Additives, New Varieties of Food-Related Products and Overseas manufacturers of imported food) and other comprehensive food safety solutions for domestic and overseas enterprises and institutions in food industry.  Please feel free to contact us: +86 10 68869850, E-mail: global_info@foodmate.net

CFE | Release Approval Document (Decision) for Special Food

On January 19, the Food evaluation Center of the State Administration for Market Regulation updated the information of infant formula milk powder product registration approval (decision) to be received, which involved Biosin Wolan infant formula milk powder (0-6 months old, 1 period) and other two infant formula milk powder products. 1月19日，国家市场监督管理总局食品审评中心更新婴幼儿配方乳粉产品配方注册批件(决定书)待领取信息，其中涉及合生元沃蓝婴儿配方奶粉(0- -6月龄，1段)等3种婴幼儿配方乳粉产品。 Business Division of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance of Global Foodmate provides food standards & regulations research, labelling compliance consulting/Chinese label design, industry public opinion monitoring and analysis, registration services (of Infant formula, FSMP, Health food, Novel Food Ingredients, Novel Food Additives, New Varieties of Food-Related Products and Overseas manufacturers of imported food) and other comprehensive food safety solutions for domestic and overseas enterprises and institutions in food industry.  Please feel free to contact us: +86 10 68869850, E-mail: global_info@foodmate.net

GACC | 35th regular meeting on situation analysis and work supervision，which required strict control of the source of imported seafood and other cold chain foods

On January 18, Ni Yuefeng, Director of the General Administration of Customs, presided over the 35th regular meeting of the General Administration on Situation Analysis and Work Supervision. The meeting requested that the national customs should strictly control and build a strong line of port quarantine defense. Continue to strengthen the normalized port epidemic prevention and control mechanism, and strictly implement port health quarantine. Strictly do a good job in source control, port risk monitoring, and preventive disinfection of imported seafood and other cold-chain foods, and strictly supervise and implement preventive disinfection measures for imported high-risk non-cold-chain container goods at ports.  Business Division of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance of Global Foodmate provides food standards & regulations research, labelling compliance consulting/Chinese label design, industry public opinion monitoring and analysis, registration services (of Infant formula, FSMP, Health food, Novel Food Ingredients, Novel Food Additives, New Varieties of Food-Related Products and Overseas manufacturers of imported food) and other comprehensive food safety solutions for domestic and overseas enterprises and institutions in food industry.  Please feel free to contact us: +86 10 68869850, E-mail: global_info@foodmate.net

GACC | Emergency Preventive Measures against an Indonesian Enterprise and a Chilean Enterprise

On January 20, 2021, the General Administration of Customs took emergency preventive measures against an Indonesian enterprise and a Chilean enterprise, due to the positive nucleic acid test of COVID-19 in a sample of one batch of frozen hairtail imported from Indonesia, and a sample of one batch of frozen king crab imported from Chile. The national customs suspended the acceptance of Indonesian aquatic product manufacturer PT.CITA KARYA AGUNG (Registered number: CR 706-02) and Chilean manufacturer SOC PESQUERA REYMAR Y COMPANIA LIMITADA (Registered number: 12080) import declaration for one week from January 20. Product declaration will resume automatically after expiration.         因从智利进口1批冻帝王蟹的1个内包装样本中检出新冠病毒核酸阳性，从印度尼西亚进口1批冻带鱼的1个外包装样本中检出新冠病毒核酸阳性，全国海关自1月20日起暂停接受智利水产品生产企业SOC PESQUERA REYMAR Y COMPANIA LIMITADA（注册编号为12080）和印度尼西亚水产品生产企业PT.CITA KARYA AGUNG（注册编号为CR 706-02）的进口申报1周，期满后自动恢复。 Business Division of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance of Global Foodmate provides food standards & regulations research, labelling compliance consulting/Chinese label design, industry public opinion monitoring and analysis, registration services (of Infant formula, FSMP, Health food, Novel Food Ingredients, Novel Food Additives, New Varieties of Food-Related Products and Overseas manufacturers of imported food) and other comprehensive food safety solutions for domestic and overseas enterprises and institutions in food industry.  Please feel free to contact us: +86 10 68869850, E-mail: global_info@foodmate.net

South Korea Issues Application Notice for Implementation of Pre-examination of Genetically Modified Food Safety Review Materials in 2021

On January 18, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) of South Korea issued the "Announcement of Application for Pre-examination of Safety Review Materials for Genetically Modified Food in 2021" in order to effectively conduct safety reviews of genetically modified foods, hoping that companies that meet the relevant requirements will apply . Applicants: applicants (developers and agency companies) without safety review application experience, applicants for companies that intend to apply for the development of new protein products. Pre-examination content: product characteristics data, whether the data should be prepared for each examination item, etc., whether the submitted materials are appropriate, the writing of application materials and abstracts, and the introduction of submission methods. Application period: January 18, 2021 ~ January 31, 2021. Consultation date: Estimated on March 23, 2021. Business Division of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance of Global Foodmate provides food standards & regulations research, labelling compliance consulting/Chinese label design, industry public opinion monitoring and analysis, registration services (of Infant formula, FSMP, Health food, Novel Food Ingredients, Novel Food Additives, New Varieties of Food-Related Products and Overseas manufacturers of imported food) and other comprehensive food safety solutions for domestic and overseas enterprises and institutions in food industry.  Please feel free to contact us: +86 10 68869850, E-mail: global_info@foodmate.net

Japan releases "2021 Imported Food Monitoring Guidance Plan" for soliciting comments

On January 18, 2021, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan issued the "2021 imported Food Monitoring Guidance Plan" for soliciting comments. The applicable period of the "2021 imported Food Monitoring and Guidance Plan" is from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022. The main contents of the draft for comments are as follows: 1. Current status of imported food, etc.: based on the overview of the monitoring results of the imported food monitoring and guidance plan in 2020. 2. Regarding the supervision and guidance of imported food for 2021: the implementation system of supervision and guidance, and the basic direction of supervision and guidance. 3. The specific content of the 2021 surveillance guidance: key implementation matters, promotion of sanitation management measures in exporting countries, promotion of importers' independent sanitation management, response to illegal situations, exchange of information and opinions among relevant personnel, and other related matters . The deadline for soliciting the above opinions is February 16, 2021. Business Division of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance of Global Foodmate provides food standards & regulations research, labelling compliance consulting/Chinese label design, industry public opinion monitoring and analysis, registration services (of Infant formula, FSMP, Health food, Novel Food Ingredients, Novel Food Additives, New Varieties of Food-Related Products and Overseas manufacturers of imported food) and other comprehensive food safety solutions for domestic and overseas enterprises and institutions in food industry.  Please feel free to contact us: +86 10 68869850, E-mail: global_info@foodmate.net