Thursday, February 28, 2019

Food Alert - Prepackaged chocolate chunks may contain allergen (milk)

Dear Sir/Madam,
 
We have issued a food alert regarding "Prepackaged chocolate chunks may contain allergen (milk)".

Please check the following link for further details.

https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/whatsnew_fa/2019_362.html

 

For further enquiries, you may contact us at <rc@fehd.gov.hk>.
Should you wish to cancel your registration with E-news, please notify us either by email (same address as above) or by fax (no. 2893 3547).
 
Centre for Food Safety
 

***********************************************************
 
各位先生/女士:
 
我們剛發出關於"預先包裝朱古力塊可能含致敏物(奶類)"的食物警報。


詳情請參閱以下連結:
https://www.cfs.gov.hk/tc_chi/whatsnew/whatsnew_fa/2019_362.html

 

如有任何查詢,請與我們聯絡(電郵地址:rc@fehd.gov.hk)
如想取消[食物安全電子信息]的用戶登記,請透過上述電郵地址或傳真號碼 2893 3547 通知我們。
 
食物安全中心

 


 

USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service Daily Digest Bulletin

USDA FSIS Email Subscription
FSIS Notice 04-19

FSIS Notice 04-19

Leave Policies Regarding Leave Approval Related to Childbirth, Adoption, Foster Care, and Serious Medical Conditions

FSIS Directive 7120.1. Revision 49

FSIS Directive 7120.1 Revision 49
Safe and Suitable Ingredients Used in the Production of Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service Daily Digest Bulletin

USDA FSIS Email Subscription
Sahlen Packing Company, Inc. Recalls Ready-To-Eat Deli Meat Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination

Sahlen Packing Company, Inc. Recalls Ready-To-Eat Deli Meat Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination

Sahlen Packing Company, Inc., a Buffalo, N.Y. establishment, is recalling approximately 13,224 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) deli ham products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically plastic.



USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service New Technologies Update

You are subscribed to New Technologies for USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. New or updated information is now available.

McAllen Cold Storage, Ltd. Recalls Siluriformes Fish Products Produced Without Benefit Of Inspection

McAllen Cold Storage, Ltd. Recalls Siluriformes Fish Products Produced Without Benefit Of Inspection

McAllen Cold Storage, Ltd., a McAllen, Texas establishment, is recalling approximately 51,942 pounds of frozen Siluriformes fish products, specifically Basa fillets, that were not presented for import re-inspection into the United States.



Codex News—February 26, 2019

The U.S. Codex Program is an interagency partnership that engages stakeholders in advancing science-based food standards

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CODEX Header - Solid Blue

A reminder that the U.S. Codex Program's website is now located at www.usda.gov/codex. The U.S. Codex Office transitioned all materials to this new site address. The former site will only have a few specific redirects. Please make sure to go to www.usda.gov/codex for the most up-to-date information.

Public Meetings

Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR)

The U.S. Codex Program is sponsoring a public meeting on March 7, 2019, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. EST to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions to be discussed at the 51st Session of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, in Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR), People's Republic of China, April 8-13, 2019. The public meeting will take place at the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Room PYS-4350, One Potomac Yard South, 2777 South Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202. Documents related to the 51st Session of the CCPR will be accessible via the internet at the following address: www.fao.org/​fao-who-codexalimentarius/​meetings/​en​.

  • Captain David Miller, U.S. Delegate to the 51st Session of the CCPR, invites U.S. interested parties to submit their comments electronically to the following email address: miller.davidj@epa.gov.
  • Please register to attend by emailing Marie Maratos (marie.maratos@osec.usda.gov) by March 4, 2019. Early registration is encouraged because it will expedite entry into the building, for which attendees should bring photo identification and plan for adequate time to pass through federal building security screening systems.
  • Attendees who are not able to attend in person, but who wish to participate, may do so by phone/conference call; please use the call-in number: 1-888-844-9904, participant code 5126092.

Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF)

The U.S. Codex Program is sponsoring a public meeting on April 1, 2019, from 1:00-4:00 p.m. EST to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions to be discussed at the 13th Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, April 29-May 3, 2019. The public meeting will take place in Meeting Room 1A003 at the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 5001 Campus Drive, College Park, MD, 20740-3835. Documents related to the 13th Session of the CCCF will be accessible via the internet at the following address: www.codexalimentarius.org/meetings-reports/en.

  • Dr. Lauren Posnick Robin, U.S. Delegate to the 13th Session of the CCCF invites interested U.S. parties to submit their comments electronically to the following email address: henry.kim@fda.hhs.gov.
  • Please register to attend by emailing Henry Kim (henry.kim@fda.hhs.gov) by March 25, 2019. Early registration is encouraged because it will expedite entry into the building, for which attendees should bring photo identification and plan for adequate time to pass through federal building security screening systems.
  • Attendees who are not able to attend in person, but who wish to participate, may do so by phone/conference call; please use the call-in number: 1-877-465-7975, participant code 906 083 160. You may also join by WebEx, using the link: fda1.webex.com/fda1/j.php?MTID=mf6edcb5be95e05520d460b404c5322bc; meeting number/access code: 906 083 160; and meeting password: rTEQAMG4.

Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (CCMAS)

The U.S. Codex Program is sponsoring a public meeting on May 6, 2019, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. EST to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions to be discussed at the 40th Session of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, in Budapest, Hungary, May 27-31, 2019. The public meeting will take place in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), South Building, Room 1452B, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250. Documents related to the 40th Session of the CCMAS will be accessible via the internet at the following address: www.codexalimentarius.org/meetings-reports/en.

  • Dr. Gregory O. Noonan, U.S. Delegate to the 40th Session of the CCMAS, invites U.S. interested parties to submit their comments electronically to the following email address: gregory.noonan@fda.hhs.gov.
  • Please register to attend by emailing Doreen Chen-Moulec (doreen.chenmoulec@osec.usda.gov) by April 4, 2019. Early registration is encouraged because it will expedite entry into the building, for which attendees should bring photo identification and plan for adequate time to pass through federal building security screening systems.
  • Attendees who are not able to attend in person, but who wish to participate, may do so by phone/conference call; please use the call-in number: 1-888-844-9904, participant code 512 6092.

Electronic Working Groups (EWG)

Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS)

Voluntary Third-Party Assurance (VTPA): CCFICS invites members and observers to join an Electronic Working Group (EWG), chaired by the United Kingdom and co-chaired by Canada and Mexico, working in English and Spanish, to consider comments submitted at Step 6 as well as outstanding issues, including comments made at CCFICS and the 42nd Session of the CAC on draft Principles and Guidelines for the Assessment and Use of Voluntary Third Party Assurance. Individuals interested in working on the U.S. contributions to the EWG should contact Ken Lowery (ken.lowery@osec.usda.gov) by March 11, 2019. Other observers and countries should send their full contact details including participant's name, official title or position, organization or country, and email address via their Codex Contact Point (CCP) to codex@defra.gov.uk with a copy to cfia.codex-codex.acia@canada.ca and codex@cofeprix.gob.mx by March 15, 2019. As this EWG will operate on the Codex Online Forum, please note that when there is more than one expert, each country or observer organization shall designate one as their official representative to participate.

Food Fraud: CCFICS invites members and observers to join an EWG, chaired by the United States (U.S.) and co-chaired by the European Union (EU) and the Islamic Republic of Iran, working in English, to further consider the role of CCFICS with respect to tackling the challenge of food fraud in the context of food safety and fair practices in the food trade. Individuals interested in working on the U.S. contributions to the EWG should contact Ken Lowery (ken.lowery@osec.usda.gov) by March 18, 2019. Other observers and countries should send their full contact details including participant's name, official title or position, organization or country, and email address via their CCP to ken.lowery@osec.usda.gov with a copy to uscodex@osec.usda.gov by March 22, 2019. As this EWG will operate on the Codex Online Forum, please note that when there is more than one expert, each country or observer organization shall designate one as their official representative to participate. 

Requests for Comments

Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC)

Codex Strategic Plan 2020-2025: The Codex Secretariat issued a Circular Letter (CL 2019/21/OCS-CAC) requesting comments on revised draft Codex Strategic Plan 2020-2025. The CL is available in English at the following link: www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/resources/circular-letters/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Mary Frances Lowe (maryfrances.lowe@osec.usda.gov) by April 23, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted through their CCP using the Online Commenting System (OCS) (ocs.codexalimentarius.org) by April 30, 2019.

Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF)

Priority List of Contaminants and Naturally Occurring Toxicants: The Codex Secretariat issued a Circular Letter (CL 2019/11-CF) requesting comments on the Priority List of Contaminants and Naturally Occurring Toxicants for Evaluation by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). The CL is available in English, Spanish, and French at the following link: www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/resources/circular-letters/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Doreen Chen-Moulec (doreen.chenmoulec@osec.usda.gov) by March 27, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted through their CCP by email to codex@fao.org by March 31, 2019.

Risk Analysis of Contaminants in Food where there is No Regulatory Level or Risk Management Framework: The Codex Secretariat issued a Circular Letter (CL 2019/10-CF) requesting comments at Step 6 on the proposed draft Guidelines for Risk Analysis of Contaminants in Food where there is no Regulatory Level of Risk Management Established. The CL is available in English at the following link: www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/resources/circular-letters/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Doreen Chen-Moulec (doreen.chenmoulec@osec.usda.gov) by April 5, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted through their CCP by email to info@codexalimentarius.nl with a copy to codex@fao.org by April 10, 2019.

Codex Committee on Cereals, Pulses, and Legumes (CCCPL)

Standard for Quinoa: The Codex Secretariat issued a Circular Letter (CL 2019/20-CPL) requesting comments on the analysis of responses to CL 2018/68-CPL: draft two sections of the Standard for Quinoa. The CL is available in English, Spanish, and French at the following link: www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/resources/circular-letters/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Ken Lowery (ken.lowery@osec.usda.gov) by March 11, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted via their CCP to ussec-cccpl@osec.usda.gov with a copy to ken.lowery@osec.usda.gov; henry.kim@fda.hhs.gov; and codex@fao.org by March 15, 2019.

Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL)

Labelling of Non-Retail Containers: The Codex Secretariat issued a Circular Letter (CL 2019/13/OCS-FL) requesting comments at Step 3 on the proposed draft Guidance for the Labelling of Non-Retail Containers of Foods. The CL is available in English at the following link: www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/resources/circular-letters/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Alexandra Tarrant (alexandra.tarrant@fsis.usda.gov) by March 27, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted through their CCP using the OCS (ocs.codexalimentarius.org) by March 31, 2019.

Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling: The Codex Secretariat issued a Circular Letter (CL 2019/14/OCS-FL) requesting comments at Step 3 on the proposed draft Guidelines on Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling. The CL is available in English at the following link: www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/resources/circular-letters/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Alexandra Tarrant (alexandra.tarrant@fsis.usda.gov) by March 27, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted through their CCP using the OCS (ocs.codexalimentarius.org) by March 31, 2019.

Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR)

Establishment of Codex Schedules and Priority Lists of Pesticides: The Codex Secretariat issued a Circular Letter (CL 2019/06-PR) requesting comments on the establishment of the Codex Schedules and Priority Lists of Pesticides for Evaluation by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meetings of Pesticides. The CL is available in English at the following link: www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/resources/circular-letters/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Marie Maratos (marie.maratos@osec.usda.gov) by February 26, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted via their CCP to ian.reichstein@agriculture.gov.au with a copy to ccpr@agri.gov.cn and codex@fao.org by March 1, 2019.

Recommendations of the 2018 Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues: The Codex Secretariat issued a Circular Letter (CL 2018/97-PR) requesting comments at Step 3 on the recommendations of the 2018 joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR). The Report of the JMPR (including the Annex) can be found on the FAO website at: www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/thematic-sitemap/theme/pests/jmpr/jmpr-rep/en and the WHO website at: www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/jmpr-reports/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Marie Maratos (marie.maratos@osec.usda.gov) by February 26, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted via their CCP to ccpr@agri.gov.cn with a copy to codex@fao.org by March 1, 2019.

Classification of Food and Feed: The Codex Secretariat issued a Circular Letter (CL 2019/19-PR) requesting comments at Step 3 on the transfer of processed commodities from Class D to Class C of the Classification of Food and Feed (CXM 4-1989). The CL is available in English at the following link: www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/resources/circular-letters/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Marie Maratos (marie.maratos@osec.usda.gov) by March 15, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted via their CCP to ccpr@agri.gov.cn with a copy to codex@fao.org by March 20, 2019.

Classification of Food and Feed: The Codex Secretariat issued a series of Circular Letters (CL 2019/01-PR, CL 2019/02-PR, CL 2019/03-PR, CL 2019/04-PR, CL 2019/05-PR, and CL 2019/19-PR) requesting comments at Step 3 on various parts of the Classification of Food and Feed (CXM 4-1989). The CLs are available in English at the following link: www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/resources/circular-letters/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Marie Maratos (marie.maratos@osec.usda.gov) by March 15, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted via their CCP to ccpr@agri.gov.cn with a copy to codex@fao.org by March 20, 2019.

Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH)

Saffron: The Codex Secretariat issued a Circular Letter (CL 2019/27/OCS-SCH) requesting comments at Step 5 on proposed draft Standard for Saffron. The CL is available in English at the following link: www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/resources/circular-letters/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Marie Maratos (marie.maratos@osec.usda.gov) by May 27, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted via their CCP using the OCS (ocs.codexalimentarius.org) by May 31, 2019.

Dried Floral Parts—Dried Cloves: The Codex Secretariat issued a Circular Letter (CL 2019/26/OCS-SCH) requesting comments at Step 5 on proposed draft Standard for Dried Floral Parts—Dried Cloves. The CL is available in English at the following link: www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/resources/circular-letters/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Marie Maratos (marie.maratos@osec.usda.gov) by May 27, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted via their CCP using the OCS (ocs.codexalimentarius.org) by May 31, 2019.

Dried Leaves—Dried Basil: The Codex Secretariat issued a Circular Letter (CL 2019/25/OCS-SCH) requesting comments at Step 5 on proposed draft Standard for Dried Leaves—Dried Basil. The CL is available in English at the following link: www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/resources/circular-letters/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Marie Maratos (marie.maratos@osec.usda.gov) by May 27, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted via their CCP using the OCS (ocs.codexalimentarius.org) by May 31, 2019.

Dried Roots, Rhizomes, and Bulbs—Dried or Dehydrated Ginger: The Codex Secretariat issued a Circular Letter (CL 2019/24/OCS-SCH) requesting comments at Step 5 on proposed draft Standard for Dried Roots, Rhizomes, and Bulbs—Dried or Dehydrated Ginger. The CL is available in English at the following link: www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/resources/circular-letters/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Marie Maratos (marie.maratos@osec.usda.gov) by May 27, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted via their CCP using the OCS (ocs.codexalimentarius.org) by May 31, 2019.

Dried Oregano: The Codex Secretariat issued a Circular Letter (CL 2019/23/OCS-SCH) requesting comments at Step 5 on proposed draft Standard for Dried Oregano. The CL is available in English at the following link: www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/resources/circular-letters/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Marie Maratos (marie.maratos@osec.usda.gov) by May 27, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted via their CCP using the OCS (ocs.codexalimentarius.org) by May 31, 2019.

Dried or Dehydrated Garlic: The Codex Secretariat issued a Circular Letter (CL 2019/22/OCS-SCH) requesting comments at Step 5/8 on proposed draft Standard for Dried or Dehydrated Garlic. The CL is available in English at the following link: www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/resources/circular-letters/en. If you are interested in having your comments considered in the U.S. response, please send them to Marie Maratos (marie.maratos@osec.usda.gov) by May 27, 2019. Comments by other observers and countries should be submitted via their CCP using the OCS (ocs.codexalimentarius.org) by May 31, 2019.

Calls for Data

Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA): The 88th Meeting of the JECFA on Veterinary Drugs invites Codex members and observers to submit data for the meeting that will be held in Rome, Italy, October 22-31, 2019. The call for data is posted on the FAO website at: www.fao.org/food/food-safety-quality/scientific-advice/calls-data-experts/en and the WHO website at: www.who.int/foodsafety/call-data/en. The deadline for data submission is April 15, 2019.

Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meetings on Nutrition (JEMNU): JEMNU invites Codex members and observers to submit data on nitrogen to protein conversion factors for soy- and milk-based ingredients used in infant formulas and follow-up formulas to provide guidance at the 39th Session of the CCNFSDU. The call for data is posted on the FAO website at: www.fao.org/nutrition/requirements/proteins/en and the WHO website at: www.who.int/nutrition/topics/callforexperts-JEMNU-Feb2019/en. The deadline for data submission is March 1, 2019.

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