Uzbekistan's Senate has approved a new Food Safety Law introducing risk-based state control, clearer responsibilities for food businesses, and expanded powers for the Food Safety Committee. The legislation, passed at the Senate's 20th plenary session, is designed to align the country's food safety framework with international practices and WTO requirements.
A European Commission proposal to lower maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides not authorised in the EU could restrict market access for African agricultural exporters, including Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco and Uganda. A Joint Research Centre study published in August examined the potential economic impact across 235 commodities and 86 exporting countries. Kenya has raised the issue at the WTO, warning of shipment rejections and income losses for smallholder farmers. The proposal remains under consideration by the European Parliament and Council.