International Standards/Harmonization

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After reassessing the food safety of the popular zero-calorie sweetener erythritol, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has lowered the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for the additive and reported that, for all groups the EU included in the assessment, acute and chronic exposure to erythritol is above the newly set ADI.

The European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries recently held a public hearing to discuss the issue of labeling plant-based imitation fishery products, with some stakeholders likening current labeling practices to food fraud, and others arguing that labeling plant-based foods with words that evoke animal products is helpful to consumers.

The UK Food Standards Authority Board recently decided it would begin discussions with UK Ministers about making written allergen information for non-prepackaged food a requirement, and will begin drafting guidance for industry in the meantime.

This article sheds light on some critical components of successful voluntary third-party assurance (vTPA) program implementation, particularly from an accreditation and certification service perspective. It discusses the role of accreditation and certification services and the prerequisites for successfully implementing the vTPA approach with the aim of supporting competent authorities in this process.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has announced a public consultation for an application to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code to permit the use of cultured quail cells as a novel food.  

Special labeling requirements for supplemented foods sold in Canada are coming into effect. The regulations are already in force, but supplemented foods that are eligible for the transition period have until December 31, 2025 to comply.

The UK Government has published guidances for EU and non-EU countries about risk categories and requirements for animals and animal products imported to Great Britain under the new Border Target Operating Model.

The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) recently reaffirmed a “not specified” acceptable daily intake (ADI) for titanium dioxide, as well as concluded that there is no safety concern for and established the specifications for 21 flavoring agents. 

The European Food Standards Agency (EFSA) has published its annual report for the Scientific Network on Microbiological Risk Assessment, summarizing the network’s activities throughout 2023. The network facilitates scientific cooperation between 25 EU Member States, Switzerland, and Norway.

On the tenth anniversary of mandatory food hygiene rating display in Wales, the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) reports a 44 percent increase in the number of Welsh food businesses that have a top hygiene rating of five.