Public Health

European Parliament Registers Waste Shipment Proposal COM(2026) 183 and FEMM Own‑Initiative on Chemical Submission

The European Parliament has formally taken up the Commission’s proposal COM(2026) 183 to exempt exports of mixed municipal waste for recovery to Switzerland from the upcoming EU export ban and has mandated its FEMM committee to draft an own-initiative report on chemical submission and women’s rights. These steps signal both continued fine-tuning of EU waste‑shipment rules at the EU–Swiss border and rising political pressure to address chemical-related risks to women’s safety, offering early insight into where future regulatory tightening or enforcement focus may emerge.

25 May 2026, 18:26eur-lex.europa.euEuropean UnionSwitzerland

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

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

Hong Kong Court Jails Man for Illegally Importing Alternative Smoking Products

On 20 May 2026, Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts jailed a traveller for six weeks for illegally importing 14,200 alternative smoking products, under strengthened tobacco control powers and existing import and public health ordinances. The case signals aggressive enforcement and substantial custodial and financial risks for anyone importing, selling or commercially holding alternative smoking products in Hong Kong, raising compliance stakes for manufacturers, distributors, retailers and logistics providers serving the territory.

25 May 2026, 18:21info.gov.hkHong Kong SAR China

US FDA Updates Pyridostigmine Bromide Safety Labeling for Bromide-Sensitive Individuals

In May 2026, the US FDA updated the safety labeling for pyridostigmine bromide extended-release tablets (NDA 217604), adding clearer warnings for bromide-sensitive individuals and revising patient counseling language on Department of Defense data collection and contact points. This tightens risk communication for the nerve agent pretreatment used in military settings, requiring label and counseling updates so personnel and prescribers better understand rash risks, privacy safeguards, and how treatment information may be used in future force-protection decisions.

25 May 2026, 18:20accessdata.fda.govUnited States

Sweden: Court Upholds Ban on Multi-Cartridge E-Cigarette and Authorities Signal Stricter Vape Oversight

Sweden’s administrative courts have upheld a Public Health Agency ban on a multi‑cartridge e‑cigarette and clarified how far municipalities can go in charging tobacco supervision fees, while the Tax Agency reiterates higher nicotine tax rates from January 2026. These developments signal stricter scrutiny of vape product designs, licensing practices and cross‑border vape imports, raising enforcement and compliance risk for nicotine product manufacturers, importers and retailers operating in the Swedish market.

25 May 2026, 18:19portal.idrelay.comSweden

California SB 1314: Smoke Shop Location, Hours and Nitrous Oxide Restrictions Advance to Third Reading

California’s Youth Over Smoke Act (SB 1314) moved forward on 18 May 2026 as the Senate read it a second time and ordered it to third reading, advancing tighter rules on smoke shop locations, hours and nitrous oxide sales. If enacted from July 2027, smoke shop operators and tobacco and nitrous oxide suppliers will need to reassess California store footprints, opening hours and product ranges or risk civil penalties and licence suspension or revocation.

25 May 2026, 18:19leginfo.legislature.ca.govUnited States

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

Environment Agency Varies Jameson Road Landfill Permit To Reduce Odour Risk

On 22 May 2026 the Environment Agency varied Transwaste’s Jameson Road landfill permit to restrict odorous household waste and require continuous hydrogen sulphide monitoring around the site boundary. This signals intensified enforcement at a high-complaint landfill and raises expectations that UK operators will invest in odour controls, monitoring infrastructure and capping to avoid similar permit restrictions or potential closure.

25 May 2026, 17:13gov.ukUnited Kingdom

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

Minnesota MPCA Proposes Cumulative Impacts Rule For Air Permits In Environmental Justice Areas

Minnesota’s Pollution Control Agency has formally proposed cumulative impacts rules that would require additional analysis, community engagement, and, where needed, enforceable community benefit agreements for certain air permits in environmental justice areas, with comments due in July 2026 ahead of a September 2026 hearing. If adopted, these rules will make air permitting more stringent and procedurally complex for facilities in parts of the Twin Cities region, Duluth, and Rochester, potentially affecting project timelines, siting choices, risk assessments, and community-relations strategies for new, expanded, and renewed air‑emitting operations.

25 May 2026, 17:12mn.govUnited States

Washington Pharmacy Commission To Consider Schedule I Listing Of Synthetic Benzodiazepines Under WAC 246-945-051

Washington’s Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission will on 28 May 2026 consider starting rulemaking, and potentially an emergency rule, to add six DEA-scheduled synthetic benzodiazepines to state Schedule I under WAC 246-945-051. If the commission proceeds, these compounds will move into Washington’s most strictly controlled category, forcing manufacturers, distributors, laboratories and pharmacies to reassess inventories, registration needs and compliance controls in anticipation of permanent scheduling.

25 May 2026, 17:10content.govdelivery.comUnited States

Estonian Health Board Publishes Human-Health Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan 2026–2031

In May 2026 Estonia’s Health Board published a 2026–2031 national action plan to tackle antimicrobial resistance in the human health sector, aligning with EU One Health AMR commitments and Estonia’s AMR strategy. The plan tightens expectations around antibiotic stewardship, surveillance, infection control, diagnostics, workforce and awareness, signalling stronger future requirements for healthcare providers even though specific legal obligations will flow through separate legislative and funding decisions.

25 May 2026, 17:09terviseamet.eeEstonia

Italy: State–Regions Conference Approves National Prevention Plan 2026–2031

Italy has approved the National Prevention Plan 2026–2031, a One Health strategy that expands funding, defines 14 mandatory predefined regional programmes, and prioritises worker safety, environment and climate-related health, infectious disease control, and food and veterinary public health. This does not create new legal duties for companies but signals a more coordinated national focus and likely intensification of regional prevention programmes, screenings, and oversight in key HSE and food safety areas over the 2026–2031 period.

25 May 2026, 15:48salute.gov.itItaly

Netherlands Temporarily Classifies Andesvirus as Group A2 Infectious Disease Under Public Health Act

The Netherlands has adopted a temporary ministerial regulation classifying Andesvirus as a group A2 infectious disease under the Public Health Act, enabling immediate use of strict individual control measures such as isolation, quarantine and work bans for cases and contacts. Public-health and healthcare actors should treat Andesvirus with the same urgency as other A2 infections, planning for rapid case detection and containment while tracking whether a follow-up bill is submitted within eight weeks to make this classification permanent or allow it to lapse.

25 May 2026, 15:47zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

DHSC Opens Consultation on Stronger Regulation of Commercial Sunbeds in England

DHSC has opened a 12-week consultation on new safeguards for commercial sunbed services in England, including mandatory age checks and supervision, standardised health-risk information, mandatory protective eyewear and restrictions on misleading health claims under the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010. If adopted, these measures would materially raise compliance expectations for sunbed operators and equipment suppliers, increasing enforcement risk and likely requiring changes to operating procedures, staff training, customer communications and marketing practices.

25 May 2026, 15:47gov.ukUnited Kingdom

Netherlands IGJ Grants Temporary Exemption for Gonasi 5000 IU Owing to Medicine Shortage

The Dutch Health and Youth Inspectorate has granted a temporary exemption until 21 August 2026 allowing import and dispensing of Gonasi 5000 IU fertility medicines without a Dutch marketing authorisation to address a national shortage. This mitigates short-term supply and treatment risks for infertility care while imposing strict indication limits and record-keeping obligations on manufacturers, wholesalers and pharmacies sourcing equivalent products from other authorised markets.

25 May 2026, 15:47zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

Netherlands Parliament Motion Requests Timetable for Phase-Out of Azole Fungicides

On 21 May 2026, the Dutch Parliament debated a motion calling on the government to publish a concrete timetable for phasing out azole fungicides in light of antifungal resistance and public health concerns. Although non-binding, this signals political momentum to tighten pesticide policy on azoles, so companies using or supplying these fungicides should expect stricter approval and use conditions and monitor the government’s response.

25 May 2026, 15:45zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

US FDA Schedules VRBPAC Meeting and Opens Docket for MFLUSIVA mRNA Influenza Vaccine

The US FDA has scheduled a 18 June 2026 meeting of its Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee and opened a public comment docket to review the safety and effectiveness of Moderna’s MFLUSIVA mRNA influenza vaccine for adults aged 50 and over. This marks an advanced stage in the vaccine’s US licensure process and gives manufacturers, clinicians, and other stakeholders a short window to contribute evidence and testimony that may influence FDA’s benefit–risk assessment and future market authorisation.

25 May 2026, 15:40federalregister.govUnited States

Netherlands IGJ Extends Shortage Exemption for Fenobarbital Teva 50 mg (RVG 52101) Until 6 July 2026

IGJ has extended a temporary exemption so Dutch manufacturers, wholesalers and pharmacists can continue importing and dispensing alternative registered phenobarbital 50 mg tablets to cover an ongoing shortage of Fenobarbital Teva 50 mg (RVG 52101) through early July 2026. This maintains epilepsy treatment continuity but requires strict adherence to indication, sourcing and record-keeping conditions while companies prepare to switch back to normally authorised supply once stock recovers.

25 May 2026, 15:39zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands