The United States and Japan update a range of residue levels.
Vietnam SPS Office has compiled draft and effective notifications on food safety and animal and plant quarantine (SPS) measures from members of World Trade Organization (WTO) from August 16-31, 2026. Accordingly, 36 notifications were recorded, including 22 draft notifications for comments and 14 effective notifications.
Notably, the United States issued nine notifications related to color additives, feed additives and maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides. Among these, notifications G/SPS/N/USA/3592, G/SPS/N/USA/3594, and G/SPS/N/USA/3595 proposed amendments to regulations on color additives, allowing use of safflower extract, acetone solvent in carrot oil production and gardenia blue in certain food and beverage groups.
Notification G/SPS/N/USA/3593 issued final regulations on use of chromium DL-methionine chelate as a supplemental nutrient in complete animal feed. The remaining US announcements focused on issuing and receiving applications for establishing or amending MRLs (Maximum Residue Limits) for various plant protection chemicals such as carboxin, cypermethrin, thiabendazole, fenpropathrin, iptriazopyrid, etc., across many agricultural and food product groups.
In Japan, five announcements related to draft amendments to MRLs for plant protection and veterinary drugs in food were also issued. Notably, announcement G/SPS/N/JPN/1427 proposed updating the MRL for imidacloprid across many product groups, from meat, seafood, milk, eggs, honey to vegetables, fruits, grains, and tea. Japan also proposed amendments, including increasing, decreasing, or abolishing MRLs for chlorothalonil, pyrifluquinazone, tolfenpyrad and boscalid across various agricultural products, spices and animal products.
Canada also issued a draft notification regarding the MRL for epyrifenacil in eggs, milk, animal meat and nuts. Another regulation was amended to raise the limit on juice content to a maximum of 30% for caffeinated beverages, and to add labeling requirements to avoid misunderstandings.
Businesses need to proactively update regulations.
Besides major markets, many WTO members also introduced new regulations and drafts directly related to import and export goods. In Tanzania, eight official notifications adopted national standards for various food and spice products, including fenugreek, star anise, Tandoori masala spice, Biriani masala, ginger and turmeric tonic drinks, sauerkraut, kimchi and kombucha.
Chile introduced regulations related to veterinary hygiene conditions for day-old poultry, imported hatching eggs, and frozen bull semen. Several other markets also saw notable changes. Türkiye is drafting regulations on fruit juices and similar products, with requirements for chemical composition, added sugar content, minimum juice content and Brix level.
Israel is drafting an updated MRL (Maximum Residue Limit) for pesticides in food, harmonizing with new European Union regulations. Australia is proposing amendments to abolish MRLs for certain agricultural chemicals and veterinary drugs.
Dominicania is drafting hygiene regulations for food and beverages, applicable from production to retail, requiring compliance with GMP and HACCP standards. South Korea plans to revise regulations on the recognition of functional food ingredients and update application processing fees. Malaysia is updating import conditions for freshwater and marine ornamental fish and live ornamental crustaceans.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) is extending the comment period for a draft technical regulation on MRLs for veterinary drugs in food. Armenia drafts amendments to general veterinary requirements and veterinary certificate forms for goods subject to animal quarantine.
Vietnam SPS Office requests that agencies, units, and associations study the content of the notification and send comments in English and Vietnamese (if any) to the Office at least 3 days before the deadline of each notification for compilation and submission to the issuing country.

Source: Vitic/ congthuong.vn