Brazil removed duties on certain syringes and needles to facilitate the imports of those goods to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Jan. 11. Brazil also is requiring a license to export certain syringes, needles and other medical products, the report said.

Canada was to begin enforcing new lot code requirements for fresh fruit and vegetables Jan. 15, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service reported Jan. 12. Most prepackaged goods are required to have a “lot code or unique identifier” on the label, such as an alphabetic or alphanumeric “code to identify a lot of product.” The product’s harvest date, grower identification number, GPS coordinates or growing region can also be used as a lot code, FAS said.

Mexico recently proposed new energy efficiency and safety standards for “self‑contained commercial refrigeration equipment,” the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Jan. 11. The standards would apply to a variety of coolers, freezers and ice bag preservers, and would revise the product classification and labeling requirements for those goods. Mexico is accepting comments on the proposal until Feb. 21.

The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices as of Jan. 13 (some may also be given separate headlines):

The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices as of Jan. 8 (some may also be given separate headlines):

The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices as of Jan. 6 (some may also be given separate headlines):

The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices as of Jan. 4 (some may also be given separate headlines):

The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices as of Dec. 30 (some may also be given separate headlines):

The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices as of Dec. 23 (some may also be given separate headlines):

Mexico recently proposed revising its organic import procedures for special certification, including changes to certain regulations, inspection methods and other import processes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service reported Dec. 21. The FAS report said “Mexico has not yet notified the World Trade Organization Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures of these changes. Notably, agricultural imports into Mexico requiring certificates of origin, such as organics, would be affected.” Industry can submit comments to the National Commission for Regulatory Improvement through Dec. 28.