New development
Battery recycling efficiency formula fixed
EU / Bulgaria · batteries and waste · official repair
On 19 October, a correction to the Bulgarian version of Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 on batteries was published in the Official Journal of the EU. In the definition of „recycling efficiency“, the clarification that the mass of the output fractions included in the recycling is divided by the mass of the input fraction of the end-of-life batteries has been restored. This is a correction to the text, not a new percentage target or a new deadline. Operators and specialists preparing or checking reports should check the formulas, procedures and working templates used with the corrected definition, so as not to carry over the incomplete Bulgarian text into the evidence of compliance.
New specification for rebaudioside M requires specific laboratory evidence
EU · food additives and laboratories · adopted regulation
By Regulation (EU) 2026/2309, the European Commission amends the specifications for rebaudioside M — additive E 960c(ii) — by also authorising a production route with genetically modified yeast K. phaffii CGMCC 7539. The act, published on 19 October, enters into force on 8 November 2026. A limit of 0.3 mg/kg for kaurenoic acid, measured by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry, is added. Viable cells or DNA from the specified production microorganisms must not be detected in the additive. Manufacturers, importers and laboratories should check the specifications, analytical capabilities and evidence from suppliers. The change is to a specific specification and not a general authorisation for all steviol glycosides.
Curdlan E 424 receives authorized uses and specifications in the EU
EU · food and quality control · adopted regulation
Regulation (EU) 2026/2298 introduces curdlan into the list of authorised food additives under number E 424 and lays down its conditions of use and specifications for identity and purity. The act was published on 19 October and entered into force on 8 November 2026. The authorisation covers specified food categories, with different maximum levels and exemptions; it does not allow use in every formulation. The manufacturers concerned should check the product category, dosage, restrictions and compliance of the purchased additive. For food safety systems, this means updating specifications and assessing suppliers, with appropriate evidence of acceptance control and traceability.
The list for intra-European transfers of defense products is being updated
EU / Bulgaria · defense industry and market access · delegated directive adopted
Delegated Directive (EU) 2026/2325, published on 19 October, replaces the list of defence-related products in Directive 2009/43/EC to align it with the updated EU Common Military List. Member States must adopt and publish the necessary national provisions by 31 January 2027 and apply them from 5 February 2027. The Directive itself enters into force on 8 November 2026. Bulgarian companies in the supply chains should align their classifications and authorisation procedures with the new annex and future national measures. This is not an immediate general amendment to all transfer authorisations.
US clarifies scope of requirements for fuel additive containers
United States · consumer products and testing · final interpretative rule
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued an interpretive rule effective October 19, 2026. Certain fuel additives intended solely for cleaning, maintaining, stabilizing, or improving engine performance, and not for generating heat or power, are not considered „flammable liquid fuels“ under the portable fuel container rule. Accordingly, containers intended solely for such additives are not covered by its flame arrester requirements. Exporters and laboratories should review the intended use and documentation for the specific product before changing the test program. This does not override other applicable safety and labeling rules.
DHS personal protective equipment origin rule goes into effect
USA · personal protective equipment and public procurement · entry into force of an adopted rule
The final rule of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to implement the Make PPE in America Act in its own procurements will come into effect on 19 October 2026. The document was published on 18 September; the new development today is the legal stage, not a new adoption. The regime covers certain personal protective equipment, including the origin of materials and components, subject to statutory exceptions. European suppliers exposed to these procurements should verify contractual clauses and evidence of chain of origin. Compliance with a safety standard alone does not prove eligibility under the origin requirements.
Upcoming deadlines
Two weeks left for opinions on seed import rules
Bulgaria · agriculture, certification and laboratories · consulting · T–14
The public consultation on the draft amendments to the Act on Seed and Propagating Material ends on 2 November 2026. The reminder is with 14 days remaining; the draft was published on 1 October and is not yet an effective law. Clarifications are proposed for certificates and labels accompanying imports, including OECD and ISTA documents for the relevant seed categories, as well as laboratory checks based on risk analysis. Importers, suppliers and laboratories should review the proposed Articles 57–59, the traceability of documents and exemptions. Practical difficulties and proposals for demonstrating compliance can be included in a statement by the deadline.
Submissions on batch traceability of food are invited until October 26th
USA · food and supply chains · formal discussion · T–7
Those wishing to speak at the FDA Public Meeting on Challenges and Solutions in Food Lot Traceability must register by October 26, 2026. The online meeting itself is scheduled for November 6; general registration to attend remains open until November 5. This is a procedural deadline reminder, not a new amendment to the traceability rule. Manufacturers, distributors, and exporters of covered foods may submit practical issues with lot codes, records, and data exchange. It is helpful to gather verifiable examples from real-world shipments and recall exercises in preparation, without assuming the proposed reliefs are already authorized.
FDA Accepts Comments on Data Under the Voluntary VIP Program Until November 2
USA · medical devices and evaluation · consulting · T–14
Comments are open until November 2, 2026, on the proposed extension of the FDA’s Voluntary Improvement Program (VIP) data collection process. The process involves voluntary assessments of third-party medical device manufacturers’ practices and reaches the T–14 threshold. It does not introduce a new mandatory certification audit. FDA explicitly distinguishes the improvement program from a regulatory compliance program and clarifies that the 20-hour assessment refers to the preparation and submission of a summary by the assessor, not the manufacturer’s overall preparation. Affected organizations should review the actual reporting burden and their proposals for data quality and utility.
Strategic Watch
BIS seeks views on new ISO area for PNT services
Bulgaria / international · standardization and digital infrastructure · consulting for a new technical area
The Bulgarian Institute for Standardization published on 19 October a call for comments on a proposal by the Korean KATS for a new ISO technical area: Positioning, Navigation and Time Services — PNT. The proposed scope includes architectures, interfaces, performance criteria and requirements for quality, reliability, security and resilience of services. This is a consultation for future standardization work, not a published standard or a new certification scheme. National comments are accepted until 10 November 2026. Organizations in transport, telecommunications, energy and digital services should assess their dependencies on accurate location and time data and the need to participate through BDS.
Global ACI enters week of technical and management meetings
international · accreditation and conformity assessment · international strategic signal
The Global ACI Annual Meetings are scheduled for 19–26 October 2026 in Panama, with a General Assembly on 26 October. Today’s announcement marks the start of this period and the week remaining until the General Assembly, not a new accreditation requirement adopted. The formal agenda includes a discussion on the consistency of scheme assessment and recognition within the framework of the Multilateral Recognition Arrangement. This is an important milestone for accreditation bodies, scheme owners and accredited organisations to monitor. Practical changes should only be planned after reviewing published decisions, final documents and any transition periods, and not based solely on the agenda.
Published by MG Global in partnership with ERPI.
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