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Consulting on rapidly developing policy

To enable more meaningful consultation and obtain early stakeholder input on EU and associated domestic legislation, updates will keep stakeholders informed of the latest changes as well as building up the history behind the featured policy development.

Consulting with stakeholders on existing and developing policies is a vital part of the Agency's work and one that we are continuously trying to adapt to better meet stakeholder's needs.

Often, new legislation in certain areas such as chemical contaminants can progress quickly through a number of drafts into a final proposal.

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April 2012 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting held on 15 and 16 April 2012.

March 2012 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting held on 15 March 2012.

February 2012 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting held on 16 and 17 February 2012.

February 2012 update on chemical contaminants in food

This update provides information on recent discussions at EU level as regards contaminants in food, including discussions on mycotoxins, industrial and environmental contaminants and Codex Alimentarius.

January 2012 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting held on 19 and 20 January 2012.

January 2012 update on Chemical Safety

This update provides information on issues concerning chemical safety issues in relation to food, including natural, environmental and process contaminants, radiological safety, food additives, GM and novel foods and food allergens.

December 2011 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting held on 15 and 16 December 2011.

November 2011 update on Food Contaminants

This update provides information on issues concerning chemical contaminants in food, including food contact materials, nitrates, process contaminants, environmental contaminants and mycotoxins.

November 2011 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting held on 18 November 2011.

October 2011 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting held on 21 October 2011.

September 2011 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting held on 21-22 September 2011.

September 2011 update on nitrates in green leafy vegetables

The Agency is updating stakeholders on new European legislation on maximum levels for nitrate in green leafy vegetables.

August 2011 update on the monitoring of the use of nitrites in meat products

The Agency is seeking the views of meat manufacturers on the use of nitrites in meat products and is asking for interested parties to respond to a European Union (EU) questionnaire.

August 2011 update on EU restrictions on use of aluminium-containing food additives

This update provides information about the opinion of the European Food Safety Authority on the safety of aluminium from dietary intake. The European Commission has discussed possible risk management measures with member states, which involve restrictions on the use of aluminium-containing food additives.

July 2011 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting held on 6 and 7 July 2011.

July 2011 update on reviewing the level for ochratoxin A (OTA) in wheat gluten

The FSA is inviting comments on the proposal to raise the limit for OTA in wheat gluten. Comments on the potential impacts will inform the UK negotiation line at the next EU Agricultural Contaminants Expert Working Group meeting on 18 July 2011. Comments should be emailed to mycotoxins@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk by Friday 15 July 2011.

May 2011 update on Food Contaminants

This update provides information on issues concerning chemical contaminants in food, including food contact materials, nitrates, process contaminants, environmental contaminants and mycotoxins.

April 2011 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting held on 11 and 12 April 2011.

March 2011 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting held on 17 and 18 March 2011.

February 2011 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting held on 22 February 2011.

February 2011 update on the draft EU legislation as regards nitrate in green leafy vegetables

This update provides information on further discussions that have now taken place at Expert Working Group level and it is anticipated that a draft Regulation will shortly be subject to vote at a Standing Committee meeting, possibly next month. The draft Regulation as it stands at present is attached below.

January 2011 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting held on 20–21 January 2011.

December 2010 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting held on 14-15 December 2010.

December 2010 update on Food Contaminants

This update provides information on issues concerning chemical contaminants in food, including food contact materials, nitrates, process contaminants, environmental contaminants and mycotoxins.

December 2010 second update on Official Controls

An update on EU regulation no 669/2009 (as amended) implementing regulation (EC) no 882/2004 as regards the increased level of official controls on imports of certain feed and food of non-animal origin (non-POAO)

December 2010 update on Official Controls

This update announces publication of the European Commission Regulation (EU) 1099/2010, amending Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 669/2009 (as amended), which comes into force on 1 January 2011.

November 2010 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting held on 18-19 November 2010.

October 2010 update on the GM Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the draft proposal by the European Commission for a 'technical solution' to the low-level presence of unauthorised GMOs and GM-derived materials in imports of feed commodity crops from outside the European Union.

October 2010 update on Official Controls

This is an update on EU regulation no 669/2009 (as amended) implementing regulation (EC) no 882/2004 as regards the increased level of official controls on imports of certain feed and food of non-animal origin (non-POAO)

October 2010 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting held on 18-19 October 2010.

September 2010 update on Official Controls

This is an update on the progress since 27 July 2010 on Commission Regulation (EC) No 669/2009 (as amended) which establishes the legal basis for controls on imports of certain 'high-risk' feed and food of non-animal origin (non-POAO).

September 2010 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting held on 16–17 September 2010.

August 2010 update on Food Contaminants

This update provides information on issues concerning chemical contaminants in food, including food contact materials, nitrates, process contaminants, environmental contaminants and mycotoxins.

July 2010 second update on Official Controls

This update gives details of the Commission’s advice on how Member States should deal with checks on products which will be delisted (or for which the frequency of checks will be lowered) from the amended Annex I list to the regulation that is expressed to enter into force as law on 1 October 2010.

July 2010 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting held on 19–20 July 2010.

July 2010 update on Official Controls

This update includes the text of the draft regulation amending Annex I to Regulation 669/2009 (which will come into force on 1 October 2010) that was presented to the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) on 14 July 2010 and the outcome of the meeting.

June 2010 update on Official Controls

This update seeks views on the draft Commission regulation (which will come into force on 1 October 2010) amending Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 669/2009.

June 2010 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting held on 16 June 2010.

May 2010 update on Official Controls

This is an update on the European Commission’s Regulation (EC) 669/2009 (as amended) which establishes the legal basis for implementing rules under Regulation 882/2004 on official controls for import controls for 'high-risk' feed and food of non-animal origin (non-POAO).

April 2010 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting held on 27-28 April 2010.

April 2010 update on food contact materials

This update gives details of a draft Commission Regulation relating to the import of specific plastic kitchenware from the Peoples Republic of China and Hong Kong.

March 2010 update on Official Controls

This update announces publication of European Commission Regulation (EU) No 212/2010, which amends Regulation (EC) No 669/2009 that applied from 25 January 2010.

March 2010 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting held on 8-9 March 2010.

March 2010 update on Food Contaminants

This update provides information on issues concerning chemical contaminants in food, including food contact materials, nitrates, process contaminants, environmental contaminants and mycotoxins.

February 2010 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting held on 18 February 2009.

January 2010 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting held on 19–20 January 2009.

December 2009 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting held on 17–18 December 2009.

December 2009 second update on Official Controls

The European Commission’s implementing rules under Regulation (EC) No 669/2009 on increased level of controls on imports of high-risk feed and food of non-animal origin (non-POAO) from third countries will come into force on 25 January 2010.

December 2009 update on Official Controls

This update includes the text of a draft Commission regulation that will amend Regulation (EC) 669/2009. The Commission is hoping to present the proposed regulation to the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) on 12 January 2010. Comments are invited by 6 January 2010.

December 2009 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

This update provides information about the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) meeting held on 23–24 November 2009.

November 2009 update on Food Contaminants

This update provides information on issues concerning chemical contaminants in food, including food contact materials, nitrates, process contaminants, environmental contaminants and mycotoxins.

November 2009 update on Official Controls

This is an update on the European Commission's implementing rules under Regulation (EC) No 669/2009 on increased level of controls on imports of high-risk feed and food of non-animal origin (non-POAO) from third countries which will come into force on 25 January 2010.

October 2009 update on Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 on the addition of vitamins and minerals and of certain other substances to foods

This letter reminds interested parties about the end of the transition period for the use of substances not listed in the annexes of Regulation 1925/2006.

September 2009 update on chemical contaminants

Interested parties bulletin containing information on on-going and forthcoming issues relating to agricultural, industrial and environmental contaminants in food.

August 2009 update on Official Controls

This is an update on the European Commission's proposals for implementing rules under Regulation 882/2004 on official controls for import controls for 'high-risk' feed and food of non-animal origin (non-POAO).

June 2009 update on food contaminants

This update provides information on issues concerning chemical contaminants in food, including food contact materials, nitrates, process contaminants, environmental contaminants and mycotoxins.

May 2009 update on the draft Commission Regulation on substances that may be added for specific nutritional purposes in PARNUTS

This is an update on the final draft Commission Regulation on substances that may be added for specific nutritional purposes in foods for particular nutritional uses (PARNUTS), which was adopted without any further amendments at the recent EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health meeting held on 27 April 2009.

April 2009 update on Official Controls

This update reports on the development of the European Commission proposals for implementing rules under Regulation 882/2004 on official controls for import controls for 'high-risk' feed and food of non-animal origin (non-POAO).

March 2009 update on Official Controls

This is an update on the development of the European Commission proposals for implementing rules under Regulation 882/2004 on official controls for import controls for 'high-risk' feed and food of non-animal origin (non-POAO).

March 2009 update on food contaminants

This update provides information on key activities regarding food contaminants, including food contact materials, nitrates, process contaminants and mycotoxins. The bulletin also provides information ahead of the 3rd session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission Committee on Contaminants in Food (CCCF), due to be held from 23–27 March 2009.

February 2009 update on Official Controls

This is an update on the development of the European Commission proposals for implementing rules under Regulation 882/2004 on official controls, for import controls for 'high-risk' feed and food of non-animal origin (non-POAO).

January 2009 update on Official Controls

This is an update on the development of the European Commission proposals for implementing rules under Regulation 882/2004 on official controls for import controls for 'high-risk' feed and food of non-animal origin (non-POAO).

December 2008 update on proposed amendments to the EU food hygiene regulations: fishery products and live bivalve molluscs

This is an update that outlines amendments suggested by the European Commission on proposed changes to current provisions for fishery products and live bivalve molluscs in Regulation 853/2004.

December 2008 update on incident prevention and chemical risk management

This is an update on incident prevention and chemical risk management in the form of a new interested parties bulletin. The first edition includes news on the publication of a new online incidents section of food.gov.uk and incidents strategy, plus information about environmental contaminants (organic and inorganic), food contact materials, melamine, mycotoxins, nitrates and process contaminants.

October 2008 update on official controls

This is an update on the development of the European Commission proposals for implementing rules under Regulation 882/2004 on official controls for import controls for 'high-risk' feed and food of non-animal origin (non-POAO).

August 2008 update on chemical contaminants

This interested parties letter contains information on on-going and forthcoming issues relating to agricultural, industrial and environmental contaminants in food.

July 2008 update on Official Controls

This is an update on the development of the European Commission proposals for implementing rules under Regulation 882/2004 on official controls for import controls for 'high-risk' feed and food of non-animal origin.

July 2008 update on vitamins and minerals in food

This is an update on the discussions at 27 June 2008 EC working group meeting.

May 2008 update on chemical contaminants

This interested parties letter contains information on on-going and forthcoming issues relating to agricultural, industrial and environmental contaminants in food.

May 2008 update on food hygiene legislation

This update reports on the outcome of the COREPER meeting on 7 May which considered a compromise text intended to secure agreement with the European Parliament at first reading. Details of that compromise text are given in the April 2008 update.

April 2008 update on food hygiene legislation

This update deals with developments of the Commission's proposal in March 2007 to exempt from the requirement for food safety management procedures based on HACCP certain types of micro businesses.

February 2008 update and proposal amending the import rules for fish oil

This is an update on progress of the restricted working group considering fish oil import conditions with the European Commission. It also asks for views on the proposals on the parameters and standards for crude and refined oils.

February 2008 update on Official Controls

This is an update on the progress since December 2007 on negotiations at European Union level on European Commission proposals for implementing rules under Regulation 882/2004 on official controls for import controls for 'high-risk' feed and food of non-animal origin.

February 2008 update and proposal amending the import rules for fish oil

This is an update on progress of the restricted working group considering fish oil import conditions with the European Commission. It also asks for views on the proposals on the parameters and standards for crude and refined oils.

February 2008 update on chemical contaminants

This interested parties letter contains information on on-going and forthcoming issues relating to agricultural, industrial and environmental contaminants in food.

January 2008 update on vitamins and minerals in food

This update gives details of the European Commission Working Group discussions on setting maximum and minimum levels of vitamins and minerals in foodstuffs according to provisions within European Union (EU) Directive 2002/46/EC on food supplements and Regulation (EC) 1925/2006 on addition of vitamins and minerals and of certain other substances to foods.

December 2007 update on Official Controls

This update concerns European Union (EU) regulation 882/2004 on official controls – implementing rules for import controls for 'high-risk' feed and food of non-animal origin.

November 2007 update on chemical contaminants

This update contains information on ongoing and forthcoming issues in the European Commission relating to agricultural, industrial and environmental contaminants in food.

October 2007 update on Official Controls

This is an update on the progress since July 2007 on negotiations at EU level on Commission proposals for implementing rules under Regulation 882/2004 for import controls for 'high-risk' feed and food of non-animal origin (non-POAO).

September 2007 update on chemical contaminants legislation

Update on revised limits for fusarium toxins in maize and maize products.

September 2007 update on food hygiene legislation

Report on a Council Working Party on 13 September 2007 – Proposal to amend Article 5 of Regulation 852/2004

August 2007 update on chemical contaminants

This update contains information on ongoing and forthcoming issues relating to environmental contaminants in food. It aims to inform about current contaminant issues and seek views on these matters.

July 2007 update on natural mineral water

The European Commission has proposed a draft regulation which would allow the treatment of mineral water to remove fluoride using an activated alumina treatment.

July 2007 update on Official Controls

Update on EU Regulation 882/2004 on Official Controls – implementing rules for import controls for 'high risk' feed and food of non-animal origin.

June 2007 update on chemical contaminants

This update contains information on ongoing and forthcoming issues relating to agricultural contaminants in food and the recently concluded first session of Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods.

May 2007 update on food hygiene legislation

Report on a Council Working Party meeting on 21 May 2007

May 2007 update on spreadable fats

The European Commission has consolidated Commission Regulation (EC) No 577/97 (as amended) setting detailed requirements for reporting fat content on spreadable fats and the use of the description 'butter' for composite products such as Brandy Butter.

April 2007 update on Official Controls

Update on EU Regulation 882/2004 on Official Controls – implementing rules for import controls for 'high risk' feed and food of non-animal origin.

April 2007 update on food supplements

Food Supplements Directive 2002/46/EC: Addition of vitamin and mineral substances to the annexes

April 2007 update on food hygiene legislation

European Commission proposes to amend Regulation 852/2004

March 2007 update on environmental contaminants in food

This update contains information on on-going and forthcoming issues relating to environmental contaminants in food.

March 2007 update on protein standardisation of dried and condensed milk

Consultation on a proposed change to a European Council directive permitting protein standardisation of dried and condensed milk.

February 2007 update on chemical contaminants

This interested parties letter contains information on on-going and forthcoming issues relating to agricultural, industrial and environmental contaminants in food.

January 2007 further update on contaminants in food

This update contains information on on-going and forthcoming issues relating to agricultural, industrial and environmental contaminants in food.

January 2007 update on contaminants in food

This update on developing EU policy contains information on on-going and forthcoming issues relating to agricultural, industrial and environmental contaminants in food.

January 2007 update on Commission review of EU food hygiene legislation

At the latest meeting of the Commission Working Group on Veterinary Legislation, the Commission indicated its intention to begin a review of the EU food hygiene legislation and to consider whether further amendments to the legislation might be needed (for a report of this meeting, please see the link below).

October 2006 update on chemical contaminants legislation

Updates on chemical contaminants, including environmental contaminants, process contaminants and mycotoxins.

September 2006 update on chemical contaminants legislation

This is an update on meetings held in September 2006 and details of the areas in which the Agency would like comments for ongoing discussions. Comments would be welcome by the end of October 2006. But as these are ongoing discussions, comments would also be welcome at any time.

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