Regulatory
REGULATORY NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 28, 2022
At the 49th Session of the Codex Committee in Food Hygiene (CCFH49) (November 2017) the Committee agreed to start new work on a guideline for the Management of biological Foodborne Outbreaks chaired by Denmark and co-chaired by Chile and the EU. This is a notice that the registration period for those interested in participating has been extended until April 1st, 2022. Interested parties are invited to register to participate in the consultations by filling out a questionnaire on Wood Canada Limited’s virtual platform. Following your registration, you will receive more information on how to participate in future engagement activities. Starting April 1, 2022, pre-entry tests will no longer be required for fully vaccinated travellers entering Canada by land, air or water. Until then, follow the pre-entry test requirements. You must still use ArriveCAN before and after April 1. The Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development will meet on Tuesday March 29, 2022 at 11am ET. Federal The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) adjusts its fees based annually on the Consumer Price Index in accordance with the Service Fees Act. This requirement ensures that CFIA service fees keep pace with inflation. The next annual adjustment will result in a decrease of the Agency’s service fees by 0.2% as of March 31, 2022. Environment and Climate Change Canada would like to remind you that the PCB equipment end-of-use deadline is December 31, 2025 under the PCB Regulations (SOR/2008-273). As the end-of-use deadline approaches, you need to plan for the decommissioning, and the safe and environmental management of your equipment that is subject to the deadline (see specifics below). In the meantime, you must comply with all regulatory requirements, as per the Regulations. Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada would like to inform you that they have recently launched a consultation on one of the topics of interest to you. The proposed short-term (one-hour) exposure limit for xylenes is 7 000 µg/m3 and the proposed long-term exposure limit is 150 µg/m3 (based on a 24-hour average). The proposed exposure limits apply to all three xylene isomers (p-xylene, m-xylene, and o-xylene) in any combination. Notice of Modification to the List of Permitted Food Enzymes to Extend the Use of Thermolysin from Anoxybacillus caldiproteolyticus TP7 to Bread, Flour, Whole Wheat Flour and Unstandardized Bakery Products. The use is enabled effective March 24, 2022. The National Import Service Centre (NISC) phone line changing to implementing an automated response in order to provide improved methods of information sharing and self-service for importers. Callers will be greeted by a pre-recorded message and offered options, in French or English, on how to access import resources online. A direct call-back option will also be available for importers who need further assistance. Email: [email protected] Telephone: 1-800-835-4486 or 1-877-493-0468 (Canada or U.S.A.) | 1-289-247-4099 (Local calls and all other countries) This directive contains the requirements for the production of fruit tree nursery stock of Malus, Pyrus, Chaenomeles, Cydonia and Prunus spp. for export, including ornamental species. This program uses a systems approach in order to produce virus tested fruit tree nursery stock. As of December 31, 2020, export labelling requirements have changed for seed destined to Great Britain. Great Britain consists of the following countries England, Scotland and Wales. Seed exported to Great Britain (GB) shall now be labelled indicating the seed “Meets GB Rules and Standards”. GB Rules and Standards are equivalent to EU Rules and Standards; seed destined to Great Britain shall continue to meet the standards provided in the EU Directives. The requirements for OECD certification and an ISTA Orange Certificate for export to Great Britain remain the same
As part of its 2022 initiatives, WorkSafeBC will be focusing resources on conducting education, consultation, and enforcement activities around workplace bullying, harassment, and prohibited action. The Bullying, Harassment and Prohibited Action Initiative will address all industries, but there will be a stronger focus on: small businesses, which may have more limited resources; vulnerable industry sectors (e.g., those with young workers or high job insecurity); and industries with a large number of complaints submitted to WorkSafeBC. On March 21, 2022 changes were made to the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA), but some COVID-19 related OHSA obligations remain. The purpose of this Act is to ensure better protection for trainees in the workplace, be it with respect to obtaining a permit to practice issued by a professional order or within the scope of a program of studies or training at the secondary, vocational, college or university level offered by an educational institution and leading to a diploma, certificate or attestation of studies. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) solicits public comments concerning the proposal to extend the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) approval of the information collection requirements specified in the Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories. DATES: Comments must be submitted (postmarked, sent, or received) by May 27, 2022. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a second round of test orders under section 4 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to obtain additional data on eight of the next 20 chemicals undergoing risk evaluation. After reviewing reasonably available data on these chemicals, EPA has determined additional data are needed and is using its TSCA test order authority to require companies to develop and submit information on avian and aquatic environmental hazard and consumer exposure. FDA is reminding companies that manufactured alcohol-based hand sanitizers consistent with FDAs temporary policies (guidance documents withdrawn on December 31, 2021), they must stop distribution of any remaining hand sanitizer produced consistent with the temporary policies by March 31, 2022. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is announcing an initiative to convert historical letters of interpretation (LOI) applicable to the Hazardous Materials Regulations that have been issued to specific stakeholders into broadly applicable frequently asked questions on its website. Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before May 23, 2022. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is issuing a 30-day procedural notice on the preliminary quantitative consumer research it plans to conduct on voluntary symbols that could be used in the future to convey the nutrient content claim “healthy.” This notice summarizes and responds to the comments the FDA received on a 60-day procedural notice issued in May 2021. March 24, 2022 – the U.S. Food and Drug Administration took additional actions as part of the agency’s work to ensure any electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) products available for sale have demonstrated that marketing of the products is appropriate for the protection of the public health. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is issuing a final rule to revoke the standards of identity for lowfat yogurt and nonfat yogurt and amend the standard of identity for yogurt in numerous respects. This action is in response, in part, to a citizen petition submitted by the National Yogurt Association (NYA). The final rule modernizes the yogurt standard to allow for technological advances while preserving the basic nature and essential characteristics of yogurt and promoting honesty and fair dealing in the interest of consumers. FDA is announcing the establishment of a docket to solicit comments that will assist the agency in determining how best to prioritize the addition of maximum daily exposure (MDE) information for inactive ingredients that do not currently include MDE information in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research’s Inactive Ingredient Database (IID). FDA is also soliciting comments on whether to restructure the IID by removing dosage form information. SAFER CONSUMER PRODUCTS REGULATIONS – Listing Treatments Containing Perfluoroalkyl or Polyfluoroalkyl Substances for Use on Converted Textiles or Leathers as a Priority Product Department of Toxic Substances Control reference number: R-2020-04 Office of Administrative Law Notice Reference Number: 2021-0915-01 The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) lists 27 substances for evaluation by EU Member States under the Community rolling action plan (CoRAP) for 2022-2024. Four of the substances are planned to be evaluated in 2022, while 23 substances are listed for evaluation in 2023 and 2024. The European Commission has granted 19 authorisations for uses of substances. Since 5 January 2022, certain hazardous chemicals in mixtures used for tattooing and permanent make-up are restricted in the EU. The European Commission and ECHA are organising an online information session to address technical questions that industry, such as ink formulators and tattoo artists, might have on the implementation of the restriction. The aim is to help those impacted to meet the new legal requirements set by Annex XVII of the EU’s chemicals legislation, REACH. (CIRS – March 3, 2022) China MEE announced that the ninth batch of 18 substances have fulfilled the requirements for IECSC supplementation and will be managed as existing chemical substances. Safety Share As provinces and states lift pandemic restrictions for public places, what are the workplace implications? Should your workplace lift its restrictions in line with the province? The agenda for the 2022 American Food Sure Summit in Chicago is now live! Webinar: Restriction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in firefighting foams 5 April 2022, 11:00-13:00 Helsinki time FAO in Geneva – One Health Dialogue Series Correction on the date for April the event is on 20th not 22nd After a great deal of deliberation with stakeholders and guests, we have decided to cancel the May 3-4, 2022 scheduled event.. Safety Connection session at no-cost exploring emergency preparedness and how you can ensure you are ready. Developing simulation exercises to comply with the Environmental Emergency Regulations, 2019 Chemspec Europe is back in 2022 in Frankfurt, Germany. Due to COVID-19 health concerns, the 2022 event will be held on May 31-June 1 at Messe Frankfurt in Frankfurt, Germany. In a slightly delayed celebration of its 125thanniversary, the National Fire Protection Association®(NFPA®) will return to an in-person event for its annual Conference & Expo (C&E) at the Boston Convention Center in Boston, Mass., June 6-9, 2022. 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