International Standards/Harmonization

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In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we discuss the top food safety stories of 2024 and their implications, including high-profile foodborne illness outbreaks, the ongoing avian flu outbreak in poultry and dairy cattle, FDA’s Human Foods Program restructuring, rising concerns and evolving legislation around food additives and chemical contaminants, and other topics.

In light of the global Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 (HPAI H5N1) outbreak, and considering the virus’ spread from poultry to dairy cows in North America, FAO has published recommendations for monitoring for HPAI H5N1 in cattle.

On December 19, the European Commission officially adopted a sweeping ban on the use of Bisphenol A (BPA), as well as some other bisphenols considered harmful, in all food contact materials. Industry will be allowed an 18-month transition period.

The European Commission has updated its list of food imports from certain countries that are subjected to temporarily increased official controls due to contamination risk.

To assist interpretation of test results generated by UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) microbiology laboratories, UKHSA has published new guidelines for assessing the microbiological safety of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods placed on the market.

The Government of Canada has amended the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR), making changes to the regulatory framework for food compositional standards, affecting certain regulations concerning food additives and compositional standards, microbiological criteria, and methods of analysis for food.

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched a public consultation for the market authorization of additives, flavorings, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for use in food and feed; two novel foods; and one food contact (FCM) material. Additionally, approvals for eight flavorings have not been renewed.

Taking place online in February 2025 and hosted by Germany’s Food Safety Authority, the annual International Training for Safer Food is a training program on food safety risk management, intended for public health authority staff members in non-EU countries who handle issues related to food safety.

The EU has implemented a new regulation that requires U.S. importers of apiculture products like honey to register with the EU’s Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES). Prior to TRACES registration, businesses must complete an assessment with USDA and an application with FDA.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has opened a public consultation on a draft scientific opinion about the public health risks associated with perchlorate in food. EFSA increased the tolerable daily intake for the chemical and concluded no health risk to the general population at current exposure levels.