Food Safety

US Codex Office Seeks Comments on Codex SPS Standard-Setting Activities for May 2025–June 2026

The U.S. Codex Office has published its annual Federal Register notice outlining Codex Alimentarius SPS standard-setting activities for May 2025 to June 2026 and inviting stakeholders to comment on standards under consideration and propose new work. Food and agriculture businesses should obtain Attachment 1 from the U.S. Codex Office, identify Codex workstreams that could affect their products or trade, and consider submitting input to shape forthcoming international food safety standards.

25 May 2026, 20:26federalregister.govUnited StatesGlobal

EFSA Concludes Food Enzyme from Aspergillus oryzae HBI-POP01 Poses No Safety Concerns

In April 2026, EFSA concluded that a metalloendopeptidase/leucyl aminopeptidase enzyme preparation produced with non-genetically modified Aspergillus oryzae HBI-POP01 does not raise safety concerns under its intended conditions of use. This positive opinion supports EU authorisation of the enzyme in specified food processes, giving food and enzyme manufacturers confidence to plan products and processes with low toxicological and allergenicity risk concerns.

25 May 2026, 18:27efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.comEuropean Union

Hong Kong FEHD Issues Guidelines and Opens Applications for Dog-Friendly Restaurants

Hong Kong’s Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has completed legislative and licensing preparations for dog-friendly restaurants, issued detailed guidelines on good practices and behaviour, and opened an initial application window from 18 May to 8 June 2026. Food premises operators now need to decide whether to participate, align operations and staff training with the new conditions, and plan for customer communication and hygiene controls ahead of permissions being granted from mid-June and dogs being allowed on permitted premises from a July start date still to be confirmed.

25 May 2026, 18:25info.gov.hkHong Kong SAR China

Greece Amends Food Supplements Annexes to Add New Folate and Magnesium Sources

In March 2026 Greece amended its national food supplements rules to add new authorised folate and magnesium sources, aligning annexes with recent EU regulations. This enables manufacturers and importers to use these novel vitamin and mineral forms in products sold in Greece, while requiring portfolio checks and labelling and notification updates to reflect the revised annexes.

25 May 2026, 18:24eur-lex.europa.euGreece

Poland Adopts Time-Limited Minister of Health Regulation on Pesticide Residue Limits in Food

In May 2026 Poland's Minister of Health adopted a time-limited regulation setting specific pesticide residue limits in a wide range of foodstuffs. Food and agriculture operators should check affected fruits, vegetables, cereals and honey against the new 0.01 mg/kg caps for carbendazim/benomyl and thiophanate-methyl, preparing for enforcement in June 2026 and the regime's 12-month duration.

25 May 2026, 18:24members.wto.orgPoland

Hong Kong CFS Follows Up on Suspected Breach of Food Safety Order by Japanese Sea Urchin Importer

Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety has marked and sealed four packs of sea urchin from Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, on suspicion that the consignment breaches the Food Safety Order restricting aquatic products from specified Japanese regions after 24 August 2023. The case highlights active enforcement of Hong Kong’s import controls on Japanese aquatic products and underlines compliance risks for importers handling products from the affected prefectures after the cutoff date.

25 May 2026, 18:23info.gov.hkHong Kong SAR ChinaJapan

Hong Kong CFS Suspends Poultry Imports From Pleszewski District, Poland

In May 2026 Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety suspended imports of poultry meat, products and eggs from Poland’s Pleszewski District following notification of a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak there. The move creates immediate market-access constraints for Polish poultry exporters and Hong Kong importers, who will need to adjust sourcing and track further animal health updates that may expand, tighten, or later relax these controls.

25 May 2026, 18:23info.gov.hkHong Kong SAR ChinaPoland

Germany Issues RASFF Alert on Sildenafil Products Sold Via Dutch Online Shop

In May 2026 Germany issued a RASFF alert over products containing sildenafil being sold via a Dutch online shop, with origin in the Netherlands. This underscores tightening EU enforcement against unauthorised medicinal ingredients in food supplements sold through cross-border e-commerce, raising compliance and monitoring pressure on online retailers and importers.

25 May 2026, 18:22bezpecnostpotravin.czEuropean UnionNetherlandsGermany

Netherlands Issues RASFF Alert for Tebufenpyrad in Ginger Extract From Italy

On 8 May 2026, the Netherlands reported a RASFF alert for the pesticide tebufenpyrad detected in ginger extract originating from Italy, as captured in an official weekly EU food safety overview. This incident signals active enforcement on pesticide residues in spice-derived ingredients and highlights potential supply chain and compliance risks for ginger-based products in the EU.

25 May 2026, 18:22bezpecnostpotravin.czEuropean UnionNetherlandsItaly

European Parliament Questions Commission On Repeated RASFF Alerts For Turkish Peppers

An MEP has asked the European Commission to explain repeated RASFF alerts for pesticide and cadmium contamination in peppers imported from Türkiye during 2025–2026 and to assess whether Greek import checks and the wider EU consumer-protection framework are adequate. Depending on the Commission’s response, this could signal tighter import controls or inspection expectations for Turkish fruit and vegetable shipments, affecting risk management for EU importers, retailers and their suppliers.

25 May 2026, 18:22europarl.europa.euEuropean UnionTürkiyeGreeceBulgariaRomania

EFSA Marks Two Cannabidiol Novel Food Applications Withdrawn And Opens Review Of Monosodium L-Glutamate Feed Additive

EFSA’s Open EFSA portal now shows that two cannabidiol-based EU novel food applications have been withdrawn while a new monosodium L-glutamate feed additive dossier is under ongoing risk assessment with a public consultation running in 2026. This signals that no EU novel-food authorisation is progressing for these specific CBD products while a potential new feed additive authorisation could still shape future formulations and labelling for animal feed, so food and feed businesses using these substances should monitor EFSA’s conclusions and subsequent Commission decisions.

25 May 2026, 18:20open.efsa.europa.euEuropean Union

Japan Amends Livestock Infectious Diseases Prevention Act And CSF Control Measures

Japan has promulgated a special package of amendments to the Act on Domestic Animal Infectious Diseases Control and related regulations and guidance, including measures on classical swine fever (CSF), via Official Gazette Special Extra No. 26 on 19 May 2026. This package may change legal expectations for livestock disease control and designated veterinary pharmaceuticals in Japan, so producers and suppliers should review the Japanese texts to understand any new obligations.

25 May 2026, 18:20kanpo.go.jpJapan

Spain Issues RASFF Alert on Undeclared Fish Allergen in Food Supplement

Spain has raised a serious RASFF alert over an undeclared fish allergen in a food supplement for joints, notified on 11 May 2026 and distributed from Spain to other EU Member States including France, Germany and Italy. Food supplement manufacturers and distributors should verify whether they supply this product or similar fish-based supplements into these markets and ensure allergen labelling and traceability controls can support rapid withdrawals and public warnings when required.

25 May 2026, 17:16webgate.ec.europa.euSpainFranceGermanyItaly

Netherlands, Ireland and United Kingdom Recall Goodlife Spicy Bean Burgers Due to Plastic Contamination (RASFF 2026.3787)

Regulators in the Netherlands, Ireland and the UK have recalled specific Goodlife Spicy Bean Burger batches in late April 2026 after plastic contamination was identified through the EU RASFF system. Food manufacturers and retailers should confirm whether they supply or stock the affected 454 g L6030/L6031 batches and review recall procedures to manage similar foreign body contamination risks.

25 May 2026, 17:14webgate.ec.europa.euNetherlandsIrelandUnited Kingdom

France Recalls Metro Chef Peeled Yellow Onions for Listeria Monocytogenes (RASFF 2026.4499)

In May 2026 France notified the EU’s RASFF system and launched a consumer recall and market withdrawal of Metro Chef peeled yellow onions after serious Listeria monocytogenes contamination was detected. Food and retail operators in France, Belgium and Switzerland should verify whether they handled the affected batches, tighten traceability for similar ready-to-use produce, and review hygiene controls to prevent comparable cross-border incidents.

25 May 2026, 17:14webgate.ec.europa.euEuropean UnionFranceBelgiumSwitzerland

EU EFSA FEEDAP Panel Confirms Safety but Cannot Confirm Efficacy of Xygest HT Xylanase Feed Additive for All Porcine Species

In May 2026, EFSA's FEEDAP Panel adopted a new opinion concluding that the Xygest HT endo-1,4-β-xylanase feed additive is safe for all porcine species at proposed use levels, while efficacy across all categories remains unproven. This clarifies safety for potential EU authorisation under the feed additives regime, but feed additive manufacturers and premix/feed businesses still face uncertainty on claims and market uptake until additional positive efficacy trials in pigs for fattening and gestating sows are generated and acted on by the European Commission.

25 May 2026, 17:14efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.comEuropean Union

EFSA Assesses Safety and Efficacy of L-Valine Feed Additive Produced With Corynebacterium Glutamicum CCTCC M 20232578

In May 2026, EFSA’s FEEDAP Panel issued a scientific opinion supporting the safety and efficacy of an L-valine feed additive produced with non-genetically modified Corynebacterium glutamicum strain CCTCC M 20232578 for use in animal feed under the EU feed-additives regime. This opinion underpins forthcoming authorisation decisions and signals practical constraints for operators, notably avoiding use via drinking water, considering rumen-protection for ruminants, and addressing outstanding worker-safety data.

25 May 2026, 17:13efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.comEuropean Union

Germany BfR Issues FAQ on Methylmercury in Fish for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women

In April 2026 Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment issued a detailed FAQ on methylmercury in fish, warning that pregnant and breastfeeding women should limit high-mercury species while still benefiting from regular fish intake. By linking EFSA’s methylmercury intake limit with EU mercury maximum levels in fish, the guidance reinforces existing contaminant standards and highlights species- and age-specific exposure risks that food businesses should factor into product sourcing and consumer communication.

25 May 2026, 17:12bfr.bund.deGermany

UK FSA Plans Research Tender on Hygiene Interventions in Meat Processing

The UK Food Standards Agency is launching a research procurement to study how slaughterhouses and meat cutting plants respond to poor microbiological hygiene results, with tenders due by 7 July 2026. The findings are intended to inform FSA risk assessment and future policy on sampling exemptions and hygiene interventions in the meat sector, so operators and research providers should see this as an opportunity to shape upcoming regulatory expectations.

25 May 2026, 17:12find-tender.service.gov.ukUnited Kingdom

Missouri HB3446 Would Require Restaurants To Disclose Major Food Allergens On Menus

In early 2026, Missouri introduced HB3446, a bill that would require restaurants to clearly disclose major food allergens for each menu item via on-menu statements or equivalent written notifications. If enacted, multi-site food service operators in Missouri would need to standardise allergen tracking, menu labelling and staff procedures across printed and digital channels to ensure accurate, accessible disclosures for consumers.

25 May 2026, 17:10documents.house.mo.govUnited States