The Codex Committee on Europe (CCEURO) established an electronic Working Group (eWG) to develop a proposed draft regional standard for Ayran (a fermented yogurt-based beverage), said the Food Safety and Inspection Service. The eWG is led by Turkey. CCEURO Member countries and Codex observer organizations interested in participating should contact the Codex Contact Point for Turkey (nilfer.altunbas@hotmail.com, berkan@panaromaturizm.net and kodeks@tarim.gov.tr).

The Codex Committee on Import & Export Inspection & Certification Systems (CCFICS) invited Codex Members and Observers to participate in a meeting in Grange, Ireland, July 9-12, 2012, to consider Section 4 of the Proposed Draft Principles and Guidelines for National Food Control Systems, said the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Australia and the European Union will co-chair the meeting. Parties interested in participating should contact Ann Backhouse, Australian Secretariat (codex.contact@daff.gov.au) and Bernadette Klink-Khachan, European Union Codex Contact Point (codex@ec.europa.eu) by May 22, 2012.

On May 18, 2012, the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails May 18, 2012, announcing changes to some Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) electronic manuals. While some changes are minor, other changes may affect the admissibility of the plant products, including fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is soliciting nominations for membership on the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI), which provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture on meat and poultry inspection programs. NACMPI has up to 20 members, and each selection is for a 2-year term. Nominations, including a cover letter to the Secretary, the nominee’s typed resume or curriculum vitae, and a completed USDA Advisory Committee Membership Background Information form AD-755, must be received by June 20, 2012.

The Animal Plant Health Inspection Service is tracing 10-12 potential birth cohort cattle of the dairy cow that was confirmed positive for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) (commonly known as mad cow disease), it said in an update May 18. APHIS also said samples of the BSE-positive dairy cow were sent to The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reference laboratories in Canada and England. Both laboratories have confirmed that the index cow was positive for atypical (L-type) BSE, according to APHIS.

On May 17, 2012, the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will begin issuing permits for the importation into the continental U.S. of fresh celery, arugula, and spinach from Colombia effective May 18, 2012, it said in a notice. APHIS said importation will be subject to the following phytosanitary measures: (1) must be imported as commercial shipments only; (2) each consignment must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection organization of Colombia, including an additional declaration for celery and spinach that each consignment has been inspected and is free of pests; and (3) each shipment is subject to inspection upon arrival at the port of entry into the continental U.S.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service revised export requirements and plant lists for the following countries for the week of May 11 through May 17, 2012:

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said it's reopening the period to submit comments on its proposed rule to provide for new risk-based conditions for the importation of live bovines and products derived from bovines with regard to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, commonly known as mad cow disease), published in the Federal Register on March 16, 2012. APHIS is now accepting comments until June 14, 2012. Comments on the proposed rule were originally due by May 15, 2012, but APHIS said it will accept comments that were submitted in the interim period between that date and publication of this extension of the comment period.