Regulatory
REGULATORY NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 12, 2023
(Michigan State University) The new bill, AB-418 Food product safety, goes above Proposition 65 warning labels to ban titanium dioxide and four additional ingredients (brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and red dye 3) from foods sold in California. As of publication, the bill is currently under review and awaiting a final vote. This policy aims to provide guidance for determining whether a substance is a food additive or a processing aid in a given context of use. The policy was developed to address, in part, objectives identified under Health Canada’s goal of “Improving Predictability, Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Transparency in Health Canada’s Food Regulatory System“. The OMRI Canada Standards Manual© lists the requirements your product(s) must meet to be eligible for a listing in the OMRI Canada Products List©. Please carefully review this manual prior to submitting your application. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is seeking comments on the following proposed new single ingredient feed (SIF) description for sodium butyrate. The CFIA is asking for comments and feedback by July 9, 2023, 30 days from the date of this posting. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is seeking comments on the following amended single ingredient feed (SIF) description for camelina meal mechanical extracted. The CFIA is asking for comments and feedback by July 9, 2023, 30 days from the date of this posting. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is seeking comments on the following proposed new single ingredient feed (SIF) description for Pediococcus acidilactici culture dehydrated. The CFIA is asking for comments and feedback by July 9, 2023, 30 days from the date of this posting. In November 2022, Health Canada created a Drug Shortages Task Force to build on these foundations to respond to drug shortages. As part of Health Canada’s ongoing commitment to enhance the multi-stakeholder response to drug and other health product shortages, we would like to inform you that Health Canada has launched a broad public consultation. This will complement engagement activities conducted to date with provincial and territorial governments, industry stakeholders, healthcare system partners, patient groups, and academia. The consultation includes a guide that will help you provide direct input to help shape Canada’s strategy moving forward. These amendments are to ensure that the derivatives and analogues of 4-AP are controlled under the CDSA on a long-term basis so that law enforcement can continue to take action following the expiration of the temporary Ministerial Order against any illegal importation, distribution, and use of these substances. This action assists in decreasing the production and supply of toxic illegal drugs that are contributing to substance use harms in Canada and to the overdose crisis. It is concluded that these substances do not meet any of the criteria set out in section 64 of CEPA. It is proposed to conclude that these substances do not meet any of the criteria set out in section 64 of CEPA. Health Canada would like to inform you that the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) is developing a revised National Standard of Canada for textile floor coverings (carpets). The draft version of CAN/CGSB-4.2 No. 27.6, Flame resistance of soft floor coverings, is available from the CGSB for a 60-day public review. This standard proposes to combine the following standards: Health Canada encourages all interested parties to review the standard and provide feedback directly to the CGSB as directed by the closing date of July, 24, 2023. The notice of intent (NOI) is an opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed amendments to the Domestic Substances List (DSL) pursuant to subsection 87(3) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) to apply the Significant New Activity (SNAc) provisions to the following three substances: The primary objective of the regulatory amendments is to clarify data compensation provisions for re-evaluations and special reviews by specifying a process under which registrants who are data holders and registrants who are relying on the data of data holders can establish compensation payable, what data is subject to compensation and when to initiate negotiations and binding arbitration (if necessary). The Health Canada Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is responsible for pesticide regulation in Canada.
Injured workers will be better supported to return to their job, or other suitable employment, through new requirements under the Workers Compensation Act. The Ontario government is offering new guidance on how to determine if your workplace must comply with new naloxone requirements. Employers who are required to provide naloxone kits in their workplaces must ensure that the worker who is responsible for the naloxone kit has received training. The FDA published a webpage dedicated to providing information on the process of equivalence for food safety. Equivalence is the process of determining whether a foreign regulatory counterpart’s food safety controls achieve at least the same level of public health protection as measures required by U.S. law. This means that a foreign regulatory authority is not required to develop and implement the same exact procedures and food safety controls that FDA requires, but rather that it must objectively demonstrate how its food safety controls, though different, meet at least the same level of public health protection achieved by U.S. measures. The web page explains how equivalence is determined, the current equivalence determinations and how regulatory authorities can submit a formal request for equivalence for FDA-regulated food products. The FDA announced the availability of a final guidance for industry entitled “Action Level for Inorganic Arsenic in Apple Juice.” The final guidance identifies for industry the action level of 10 parts per billion (ppb) for inorganic arsenic in apple juice, issued in draft by the agency in 2013. The guidance supports the FDA’s goal to reduce exposure to environmental contaminants from foods commonly consumed by babies and young children. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is sharing updates on its activities to better understand PFAS in the general food supply including, recent testing results, progress on seafood related work, and advances in testing methods. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced another action to protect public health under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), proposing a ban on most uses of perchloroethylene (PCE), a chemical known to cause serious health risks such as neurotoxicity and cancer. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing new and amended requirements concerning the assertion and treatment of confidential business information (CBI) claims for information reported to or otherwise obtained by EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Amendments to TSCA in 2016 included many new provisions concerning the assertion, Agency review, and treatment of confidentiality claims. This document finalizes procedures for submitting such claims in TSCA submissions. It addresses issues such as substantiation requirements, exemptions, electronic reporting enhancements (including expanding electronic reporting requirements), maintenance or withdrawal of confidentiality claims, and provisions in current rules that are inconsistent with amended TSCA. The rule also addresses EPA procedures for reviewing and communicating with TSCA submitters about confidentiality claims. DATES: This final rule is effective on August 7, 2023. The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) identified antimony (trivalent compounds) as a potential candidate for listing under Proposition 65 (Health and Safety Code [HSC] sections 25249.5 et seq.) as known to cause cancer via the “Labor Code” mechanism (HSC section 25249.8(a); Title 27 Cal. Code of Regs. section 25904). This potential action was based on a conclusion by the International Agency for Research on Cancer [IARC] (IARC 2022; Karagas et al. 2022), and was noticed in the California Regulatory Notice Register (Register 2022, Number 39-Z, September 30, 2022). The publication of the notice initiated a public comment period (September 30, 2022 – October 31, 2022). OEHHA received six sets of comments during the comment period. The comments are posted with the Notice of Intent to List on OEHHA’s website. Read the latest OECD Policy Highlights on climate change and plastics pollution for a forward-looking perspective to address the interactions between climate change and plastics. These highlights draw on the two OECD Global Plastics Outlook reports. In accordance with Article 29(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, EFSA received from the European Commission a mandate (M-2020-0183) with the request to conduct preparatory work for the re-evaluation of phthalates, structurally similar substances and replacement substances that are potentially used as plasticisers in food contact materials (FCMs). This mandate included a request to consider migration data in the context of the dietary exposure assessment. To this end, in 2022, EFSA conducted a data collection to gather results generated in experimental studies on FCMs before their actual use (e.g. tests on migration of plasticisers from FCMs using food/food simulants, or tests on concentration of plasticisers in FCMs[1]). This data collection will continue in 2023. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) performed a previous assessment of PBDEs in 2011, when it assessed the risk for individual PBDEs and identified health concerns for young people only. This latest draft opinion considers scientific evidence that has become available since 2011 and assesses the risks associated with the combined exposure to some of the most frequently detected PBDEs. Safety Share Heat-related illnesses pose significant dangers to workers in various occupations, including those in the food supply chain and agriculture. The scorching sun and long hours outdoors increase the risk of conditions like heat exhaustion, heat stroke, dehydration and fainting. It turns out that having a strong health and safety culture can be a vital business asset in today’s competitive marketplace. These findings and more are right at your fingertips! Have an event you would like to share? Please send details to [email protected]. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) will host its annual Conference & Expo at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas on June 19-21, 2023. This comprehensive event brings together thousands of the industry’s leading professionals who will attend more than 110 educational sessions addressing the latest issues, challenges, and trends in the world of fire, electrical, and life safety. Over two days delegates will come to learn from dozens industry leaders and technical experts about the exciting opportunities within Canada’s downstream sector. ChemEdge 2023 is bringing supply chain professionals all along the chemical distribution industry together to share best practices and business solutions. Asian Chemicals Forum (ACF) will cover a wide range of topics related to safe chemical management. There is no other health and safety event like this in Canada. Make a plan to join us for this two-day national event that will bring together leaders, change makers, and subject experts representing government, labour, and workplaces, to share their knowledge and experience around current and emerging health and safety issues. The World Food Forum officially unveiled its theme for 2023: “Agrifood systems transformation accelerates climate action” and launched its activities for the year culminating in a series of global events, competitions and actions taking place from 16-20 October at the Rome headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The International Baking Association (IBA) trade fair, a leading trade fair for the baking and confectionery industry set for Oct. 22-26 in Munich, will feature an area focused on innovative start-up businesses. The next European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Conference will take place on 28 February 2024 in Helsinki. As we are preparing the programme, we want to hear what would be the most important topics for you. So, fill in our short survey and help us shape a relevant and inspiring stakeholder event.Advocacy
Canadian Federal News
Canadian Provincial News
US News
International News
Other Relevant Information
EVENTS
Comments are closed