Regulatory Updates

Distribution date: 08 January 2024

The requirements of the 14 different parts of the Israel Standard SI 885 series, which were due to be replaced with SI 885 part 20, were declared voluntary. Therefore, the revision process was revoked on 3 January 2024 and should not be followed through the TBT.

Products Covered: Microbiology test methods for foodstuffs

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 22 November 2023

- __________ 1 This information can be provided by including a website address, a PDF attachment, or other information on where the text of the final measure/change to the measure/interpretative guidance can be obtained.

Products Covered: Chemical substances and mixtures

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 07 November 2023

Health Canada's Food Directorate completed a re-evaluation of the permitted uses of the food colour amaranth as described in the notice of Health Canada's Proposal to Modify the Currently Permitted Uses of the Colouring Agent Amaranth in Various Foods [NOP/AVP-0023] that was published on 4 January 2017, and open to the public for comments for 75 days.Health Canada has updated the permitted uses for amaranth to reduce the possibility of excessive dietary exposure to this food colour, while continuing to allow uses of interest to the food industry. The update was done by modifying the List of Permitted Colouring Agents as described in the information document, effective 3 November 2023.The purpose of the information document is to publicly announce the Department's decision in this regard and to provide the appropriate contact information for those wishing to submit an inquiry or new scientific information relevant to the safety of this food additive. The information document also summarizes Health Canada's responses to the comments received during the comment period that accompanied the Department's notice of proposal.

Products Covered: Amaranth (ICS Code: 67.220.20)

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 27 October 2023

As part of the Commission's systematic review of all FTC rules and guides, the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC" or “Commission”) seeks public comment on the overall costs, benefits, necessity, and regulatory and economic impact of its Labeling Requirements for Alternative Fuels and Alternative Fueled Vehicles ("Alternative Fuels Rule" or “Rule”). Comments must be received on or before 26 December 2023. Title 16 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 309 Interested parties may file a comment online or on paper, by following the instructions in the Request for Comment part of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of the regulatory review text (same as the text associated with this notification). Write “Regulatory Review for Alternative Fuels Rule, Matter No. R311002” on the comments. WTO Members and their stakeholders are asked to submit comments to the USA TBT Enquiry Point. Comments received by the USA TBT Enquiry Point from WTO Members and their stakeholders by 4pm Eastern Time on 26 December 2023 will be shared with the FTC and submitted to the Docket on Regulations.gov if received within the comment period. 

Products Covered: Alternative fuels labeling (ICS 13.020, 43.020, 75.160)

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 13 October 2023

Products covered: (ICS 71.100.80) Chemicals for purification of water  This addendum concerns the notification of draft of Egyptian Standard ES 382-2 "Ethyl Alcohol- part2: Alcohol Denaturants – Specification"  (partial amendment in 1 page, in Arabic).It should be noted that the Ministerial Decree No. 524/2021 (2 pages, in Arabic) which was formerly notified in G/TBT/N/EGY/3/Add.49 dated 14 February 2022 mandated among others the earlier version of this Egyptian Standard.Worth mentioning is that this standard has been partially modified in the following items:- Introduction:        The following is added:-       Annex F indicates the deviation from IS 4117/2008- Annex (b) table (b/1) adds the following:1-   In case of using SD11a (0.125 litre Tertiary butyl alcohol + 0.468 g  Denatonium benzoate) For every 100 litres of ethyl alcohol with a concentration of 95 % in the production of ethylene gas, the following must be followed: - Producing and importing companies must adhere to the proportions listed in the above formula for the production of Ethylene Gas. - In case of, non-compliance with the above-mentioned formula converted alcohol will be treated as non-converted alcohol.  - Regarding, the SD11a copy plate used in the conversion of ethyl alcohol to produce ethylene gas. Customs, tax authorities and other regulatory authorities must verify the actual user, the end usage, the determined end usage and the quantity required for the product or the processes applied before this formula is allowed.   - Emphasizing on, that in case of changing the mentioned proportions related to this formula, the alcohol will be isolated easily, and must be treated as non-converted alcohol by all concerned bodies. 2- Annex (f)” Add the above-mentioned items in the table of deviation from the Indian standard. “  Worth mentioning is that this standard is technically identical with IS 4117/2008.Producers and importers are kept informed of any amendments in the Egyptian standard through the publication of administrative orders in the official gazette.Date of adoption: To be determined.Date of entry into force: To be determinedAgency or authority designated to handle comments and text available from: National Enquiry Point Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality16 Tadreeb El-Modarrebeen St., Ameriya, Cairo – EgyptTel: + (202) 22845528Fax: + (202) 22845504E-mail: eos@idsc.net.eg/eos.tbt@eos.org.egWebsite: http://www.eos.org.eg 

Products Covered: Chemical, textile and engineering products

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 13 October 2023

Products covered: (ICS 71.060) Inorganic chemicals.This addendum concerns the notification of draft of Egyptian Standard ES 273-3 " sodium chloride- part: 3 -analytical reagent- requirements and test methods "  (22 pages, in Arabic).This standard cancels and supersedes its last edition in 2005.It should be noted that the Ministerial Decree No. 423/2005 (25 pages, in Arabic) which was formerly notified in G/TBT/N/EGY/3 dated 14 December 2005 mandated among others the earlier version of this Standard.Worth mentioning is that this standard is technically identical with IS 4408 / 1979 (Reaffirmed 2010)Producers and importers are kept informed of any amendments in the Egyptian standard through the publication of administrative orders in the official gazette.Date of adoption: To be determined.Date of entry into force: To be determinedAgency or authority designated to handle comments and text available from: National Enquiry Point Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality16 Tadreeb El-Modarrebeen St., Ameriya, Cairo – EgyptTel: + (202) 22845528Fax: + (202) 22845504E-mail: eos@idsc.net.eg/eos.tbt@eos.org.egWebsite: http://www.eos.org.eg

Products Covered: Chemical, textile and engineering products

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 27 September 2023

Products covered: (ICS:91.100.10) Cement. Gypsum. Lime. MortarThis addendum concerns the notification of the Ministerial Decree No. 298 /2023 (1 page, in Arabic) postponing implementation of Egyptian Standard ES 4756-1" Cement - Part 1: Composition, specifications and conformity criteria for common cements" (48 pages, in Arabic) for one year starting from 1/9/2023 and the Ministerial decree No.326/2023 (1 page, in Arabic) amending the Egyptian standard (ES 4756-1) number as stated in Ministerial Decree No. 298/2023 to become ES 4756-1/2022, noting that the previous version of the Egyptian Standard (ES 4756-1/2013) will be valid until 31/8/2024.It should be noted that the Ministerial Decree No. 561/2022 (2 pages, in Arabic) which was formerly notified in G/TBT/N/EGY/3/Add.53 dated 20 December 2022 and the Ministerial Decree No. 189 /2023 (1 page, in Arabic) which was formerly notified in G/TBT/N/EGY/3/Add.57 dated 14 July 2023 mandated among others the earlier version of this Egyptian standard.Producers and importers are kept informed of any amendments in the Egyptian standard through the publication of administrative orders in the official gazette.Proposed date of adoption: 31 August 2023.Proposed date of entry into force: 1 September 2023.Agency or authority designated to handle comments and text available from: National Enquiry Point Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality16 Tadreeb El-Modarrebeen St., Ameriya, Cairo – EgyptTel: + (202) 22845528Fax: + (202) 22845504E-mail: eos@idsc.net.eg/eos.tbt@eos.org.eg Website: http://www.eos.org.eg

Products Covered: Chemical, textile and engineering products

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 20 September 2023

Products covered: ICS: 23.120 Ventilators. Fans. Air-conditioners- ICS: 13.120 - Domestic safetyThis addendum concerns the notification of the Ministerial Decree No. 197 /2023 (2 pages, in Arabic) that gives the producers and importers a twelve-month transitional period to abide by the Egyptian Standard ES 537-2 " safety requirements for household and similar electrical appliances Part2: particular requirements for fans "(19 pages, in Arabic).It should be noted that the draft of this standard was formerly notified in G/TBT/N/EGY/3/Add.52  dated 14 December 2022.This standard cancels and supersedes its last edition in 2005Worth mentioning is that this standard is technically identical with IEC 60335-2-80/2015.Producers and importers are kept informed of any amendments in the Egyptian standard through the publication of administrative orders in the official gazette.Proposed date of adoption: 6 June 2023.Proposed date of entry into force: 5 July 2023Agency or authority designated to handle comments and text available from: National Enquiry Point Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality16 Tadreeb El-Modarrebeen St., Ameriya, Cairo – EgyptTel: + (202) 22845528Fax: + (202) 22845504E-mail: eos@idsc.net.eg /eos.tbt@eos.org.eg Website: http://www.eos.org.eg

Products Covered: Chemical, textile and engineering products

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 15 September 2023

The number of packaging layers, packaging costs, gross merchandise weight, the classification and k value of commercial tea and related products and infant formula food in Appendix A.1 have been added, and the standard implementation requirements have been partly revised.

Products Covered: Foods and cosmetics (ICS:  55.020)

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification

Distribution date: 11 September 2023

This determination of acceptability expands the list of acceptable substitutes pursuant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Significant New Alternatives Policy program. This action lists as acceptable additional substitutes for use in the refrigeration and air conditioning and fire suppression sectors. This determination is applicable on 8 September 2023. Refer to 40 CFR 82 for further details:  https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-82/subpart-G/appendix-Appendix%20A%20to%20Subpart%20G%20of%20Part%2082  This determination of acceptability and previous actions notified as G/TBT/N/USA/1013 are identified by Docket Number EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0118.  The Docket Folder is available on Regulations.gov at https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0118/document and provides access to primary and supporting documents as well as comments received. Documents are also accessible from Regulations.gov by searching the Docket Number.

Products Covered: Chemical substances

Regulation Type: Addendum to Regular Notification