China will formally implement a new inspection mode for imported hazardous chemicals since April 13, 2023, according to the announcement on Further Strengthening the Inspection and Supervision of Imported Hazardous Chemicals issued by the General Administration of Customs.

The European Commission has recently published regulation (EU) 2023/464, which amends the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 440/2008, a set of test methods under the Registration, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation. In this amendment, a number of new OECD in vitro test methods are introduced while some old test methods are removed such as Two-Generation Reproduction Toxicity Study (OECD 416) and Unscheduled DNA Synthesis (UDS) Test with Mammalian Liver Cells in vivo (OECD 486), which promotes the application of in vitro test methods in the EU.

On April 18, 2023, the European Union Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) request for a scientific opinion on triphenyl phosphate (CAS No.115-86-6, EC No. 204-112-2). The public consultation period is 9 months.

On May 6, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China (NHC) issued an announcement (No. 3 of 2023) for “Three New Foods” with 14 products approved, including 2 new food raw materials, 6 new food additives, and 6 food-related products.

Policy Interpretation – How to Enter the "Fast Track" of Priority Approval? ——This policy was implemented on January 1, 2017 1. Scope of priority approval Projects those are applicable to the priority approval of "fast track" a. Applications for registration of domestic Class III medical devices. b. Applications for registration of imported Class II and Class III medical devices. Projects those are not applicable to the "fast track" of Priority Approval a. Filing of Class I medical devices; b. Applications for registration renewal and registration change; c. Applications that have been included in the approval process in accordance with the emergency approval procedures for medical devices or the special approval procedures for innovative medical devices. 2. The conditions for applying for priority approval (1) Diagnose or treat rare diseases, with obvious clinical advantages. (2) Diagnose or treat malignant tumors, with obvious clinical advantages. (3) Diagnose or treat specific and multiple diseases to the elderly, and there are currently no effective diagnoses or treatments. (4) Dedicated to children, with obvious clinical advantages. (5) Clinically urgently needed, and for which there are no registered medical devices of the same species in China. (6) Medical devices listed in major national science and technology projects or national key research and development programs. (7) Other medical devices that should be prioritized for approval, shall be determined by NMPA after extensively soliciting of opinions and organizing experts to demonstrate. 3. When is the priority approval application submitted? Those who meet the above priority approval conditions shall submit the application for priority approval together with the registration application for medical devices.

The registration of five active ingredients and ten new pesticide products have passed the technical review and the review of the National Pesticide Registration Review Committee in China and received approval for use. All ten products are biopesticides and were applied for by four enterprises including Sichuan Jinzhu Ecological Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd.