Update

• In June/July 2021, a new subversion 3.1 of IFS Broker was released with a corresponding doctrine to replace 3.0. IFS had to take this step to ensure that the standard meets the GFSI Benchmarking Requirements 2020.1 and these criteria to remain certified. In version 3.1, the scoring system will be largely the same as the scoring system of IFS Food version 7. Minor adjustments related to the section for accreditation bodies in part 3 of the standard and to adjustments in the reporting. As in the current version, conducting unannounced audits for IFS Broker audits remains optional for audited companies.

• EFSA has developed a risk approach for the shelf life of foods.
  PART 1 Guidance on date marking and related food information: part 1 (date marking) and
  PART 2 Guidance on date marking and related food information: part 2 (food information)

• Regulation (EU) 2021/741 on national provisions notified by Denmark regarding the addition of nitrite to certain meat products.
  8.3.1 Non-heat-treated meat products: Total of 60 mg/kg. But for fermented salami’s a total of 100 mg/kg.
  8.3.2 Heat-treated meat products: Total of 60 mg/kg. For fully preserved or semi-preserved products, a total of 150 mg/kg. For rullepølse (rolled meat sausage), a total of 100 mg/kg. For traditional Danish meatballs and liver pate, 0 mg/kg.
  8.3.4 Traditionally produced cured meat products subject to specific provisions on nitrites and nitrates: Total of 60 mg/kg. For bacon of the Wiltshire type and related products, a total of 150 mg/kg. For traditional cured ham (spegeskinke) and related products, 150 mg/kg.
  Thus, for many types of meat products, lower maximum levels for nitrites apply (E 249 and E 250) of 60 mg/kg, while the corresponding maximum levels in Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 are 100 or 150 mg/kg.
  Item 26 is interesting:
  The conclusions of the dossier examination among the Member States, the ad hoc survey on the use of nitrites by industry, the re-evaluation by EFSA and the data provided by Denmark should be taken into account by the Commission in a possible revision of the maximum levels for nitrites under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. This revision of maximum levels for nitrites is currently being discussed with the Member States.

• New Royal Decree of 30 May 2021 on cream to replace the old Royal Decree of 23 May 1934 on the regulations on trade in cream. In the new version, the definitions of cream have been changed.

• In July, IFS released the new version of their packaging standard PACsecure version 2. This PACsecure standard meets the GFSI requirements. The standard was developed by the Packaging Consortium of Canada (PAC), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and IFS.
  IFS PACsecure version 2 provides requirements for managing the quality and safety of packaging materials and compliance with regulations and customer requirements. The standard can be applied to companies that produce packaging materials (primary and/or secondary) for foods, cosmetics, personal hygiene products and household products.
  Audits to IFS PACsecure version 2 will be possible as of 3 January 2022. Version 2 will be mandatory as of 3 May 2022 (IFS PACsecure is mainly applied in the USA and Canada. The standard is currently uncommon in the Netherlands)

• July, IFS released the new version of their packaging standard PACsecure version 2. This PACsecure standard meets the GFSI requirements. The standard was developed by the Packaging Consortium of Canada (PAC), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and IFS.
  IFS PACsecure version 2 provides requirements for managing the quality and safety of packaging materials and compliance with regulations and customer requirements. The standard can be applied to companies that produce packaging materials (primary and/or secondary) for foods, cosmetics, personal hygiene products and household products.
  Audits to IFS PACsecure version 2 will be possible as of 3 January 2022. Version 2 will be mandatory as of 3 May 2022 (IFS PACsecure is mainly applied in the USA and Canada. The standard is currently uncommon in the Netherlands)7 public interests are central:
  1. Food safety
  2. Product safety
  3. Plant health
  4. Nature and environmen
  5. Animal health
  6. Animal welfare and
  7. Discouraging tobacco and alcohol use.

• European Commission (EC) publishes a harmonised approach for ethylene oxide in composite foods (E410). The NVWA points out to food producers and sellers that the EC has published a harmonised approach regarding ethylene oxide in composite foods. The NVWA indicates that this concerns composite products which contain the additive E410. The NVWA states that it is known that the additive E410 exceeds the MRL of 0.1 mg/kg ethylene oxide. According to the NVWA, the policy is implemented by all European countries. Producers who have incorporated contaminated E410 in their composite foods must, under the new policy, recall it up to and including the consumer. According to the food authority, it will ensure that notifications received by the NVWA as of 17 July are handled in accordance with the new agreements and that companies take responsibility for this.

• Labelling of foods treated with “regenerated ‘clean smoke’”. There has been a lot of discussion about smoking techniques. This technique is a smoke flavour technique and must be on the ingredient list: ‘Smoked with smoke flavourings’.

• Expiration date indications (BBD and by UBD) are being overhauled. There are two variants for food expiration dates: the BBD (best before date) and the UBD (use-by date). But when do you use which as a producer? The rules on this will change in July 2022. During VMT’s digital Food Law Update on 8 June, Ana Viloria, senior policy officer of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, announced the upcoming changes to expiration dates. The amended decision is expected to be published on 1 January 2022 and will take effect on 1 July 2022.

• As of 1 July 2022, there will be a new warning label for the food safety of fresh poultry meat. During the digital Food Law Update of VMT on 8 June, Ana Viloria, senior policy officer of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, announced the upcoming changes to the warning label on poultry meat.

• On 31 December 2022, a deposit of € 0.15 per metal beverage packaging will be introduced on metal beverage packaging. This is done with the Decree on measures for metal beverage packaging. This regulation amends the Packaging Management Regulation and adds provisions regarding deposits on metal beverage packaging.

• Food contact materials made from bamboo fibres and melamine are no longer allowed on the European market.For some time now, consumers have had a rich selection of tableware and kitchenware containing bamboo fibres. These products are often used as an alternative to disposable tableware or as a “more natural” alternative to certain melamine kitchenware, such as children’s plates. However, dishes made from bamboo fibres are not always 100% bamboo! Generally, a polymer – usually melamine – is added to these bamboo fibres. Well, any material containing melamine, even in very small quantities, is considered plastic and thus has to comply with the requirements of EU legislation on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food (Regulation (EU) 10 /2011). Based on this EU legislation, bamboo is not allowed for the manufacture of such products.Harmonised actions at the Benelux level, with a view to harmonisation, the partners of theBenelux agreed on a joint statement. This ban will therefore be inspected by the 3 countries from the second quarter of 2021.

• The NVWA has published an information sheet on Meat Tracing and Labelling. The purpose of this information sheet is to bundle articles from the European Regulations relating to tracing and origin labelling of meat for operators of abattoirs, cutting plants and cold stores that supply BtoB.

• BRCGS Food Standard Issue 9 is under development. The draft and publication will be released in December 2021 and August 2022, respectively, and audits are expected by February 2023.

• A paragraph has been added to the Dutch Commodities Act Decree regarding the designation of natural vinegar: “The designation natural vinegar may only be used for a liquid product as referred to in the first paragraph that is obtained by an alcoholic and an acetic acid fermentation of food or drink products from agricultural origin.” The change came into effect on 01-07-2021.

• Long-awaited document unequivocally establishes: SARS-CoV-2 virus is not a food safety risk. The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is not a food safety risk. This is evident from a new guideline from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN). Long-awaited document unequivocally establishes: SARS-CoV-2 virus is not a food safety risk (update). This guideline, which appeared in early August 2021, replaces the interim document of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the FAO that has been taking into effect since April 2020.

• The Hygiene Code for Supply of Live Bivalve Molluscs 2021 is approved as a hygiene code, as referred to in Article 4, second paragraph, of the Food Hygiene Commodities Act Decree. The Decree of 9 October 2009 is repealed and this new Decree takes into effect on 1 August 2021.

• European Commission lowers permitted maximum levels for cadmium and lead in foods. In order to reduce carcinogens in foods, lower permitted maximum levels for cadmium and lead in various foods, including those for babies, fruit and vegetables will be introduced. This was recently announced by the European Commission. The measures will apply to lead as of 30 August and to cadmium as of 31 August. The decision is part of the EU action plan to fight cancer.