China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine states that the General Principles for Examination of Food Additive Production Licensing (2010 Edition) published by the AQSIQ on August 13, 2010 will go into effect as of September 1, 2010. AQSIQ states that it is in line with the Food Safety Law of China, the Regulations on the Administration of Production License for Industrial Products and the Provisions on the Supervision and Administration of Production of Food Additives, with the aim of regulating and standardizing the supervision and administration of food additive production.
China's Ministry of Commerce reports that thanks to the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), the trade volume of Hangzhou to Taiwan has doubled since July. The products declared to enter the mainland from Taiwan are mainly textile materials and electronic materials and parts; and products exported to Taiwan are mainly mechanical and electrical products.
The European Chemicals Agency is seeking comments on proposals submitted by three European Union member countries to identify eleven chemicals as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC), which could make them subject to the "authorization" component of the EU’s REACH1 program.
GOV.cn reported on August 27, 2010 that China is enacting various measures, such as increasing its annual grain harvest and creating new grain safety legislation, to ensure a food-secure society, according to Zhang Ping, minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). Zhang stated that the NDRC and other food administrative agencies were working together in a draft law on food and grain. Zhang also stated that China has established a preliminary emergency response system for grain safety, strengthening the production, storage, transportation and distribution of food and grain during emergency situations.
In the August 27, 2010 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union, the following trade-related notice was posted:
On August 27, 2010, the European Union Trade Commissioner finished a three-day visit to Vietnam, where he was invited to the 42nd ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting. According to the EU, the visit was an opportunity to intensify trade and economic relations with ASEAN as a group, after the negotiations for a region-to-region Free Trade Agreement (FTA) were put on hold in 2009.
According to an August 26, 2010 World Customs Organization press release, a combined international operation, called Operation Mamba III, took place across East Africa, targeting counterfeit medical products and pharmaceutical crimes. Operation Mamba III resulted in the seizure of at least 10 tons of counterfeit and illicit medical products and more than 80 arrests of individuals suspected of involvement in the illegal manufacture, trafficking or sale of counterfeit and diverted medical products. Examples of some of the individual cases of suspected counterfeit drugs intercepted during the operation include 11634 Metakelfin antimalaria tablets, 3300 Celestamine antibacterial tablets, 1000 Duo-Cotecxin antimalaria tablets, 200 Ciprobay antibiotic tablets, 180 Betapyn headache tablets, 126 Postinor-2 oral emergency contraceptive tablets, and 80 Cialis erectile dysfunction tablets. Representatives of participating countries will meet next week to review the results of Operation Mamba III and to further harmonize the region’s approach to counterfeit and unregulated medicine.
In the August 26, 2010 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union, the following trade-related notice was posted:
China's Ministry of Commerce reports that it will host the China Import Forum 2010 on September 6, 2010. The theme of the Forum is "Opening Market and Global Trade." It will focus on comprehensive introductions to the Chinese market and its relevant import policies, and enhancing communications and exchanges among governments, industries and companies.
Mexico's Diario Oficial of August 25, 2010 lists a notice from the Secretary of the Economy as follows: