Commission recommendation (EU) 2019/1888 on the monitoring of the presence of acrylamide in certain foods was published in the Official Journal on 11 November 2019.

The recommendation requests competent authorities and food business operators within the EU to regularly monitor for the presence and levels of acrylamide in food, particularly those products within the following categories:
Potato products, including rosti and croquettes; Bakery products, including rolls, croissants, doughnuts, pancakes and speciality bread; Cereal products, including crackers and honey roasted muesli; and Others, including vegetable crisps/fries, roasted nuts and oilseeds, coffee substitutes and dried fruits.
The recommendation also repeals the previous two recommendations (2013/647/EU and 2010/301/EU).

FoodDrinkEurope has published industry guidelines on Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 on flavourings and certain food ingredients with flavouring properties for use in and on food..

These guidelines are intended to provide a common understanding of the major issues to be taken into account by different food businesses. They include interpretations and industry's common understanding of the Regulation, as well as some examples.

In preparation for the application of Regulation 2017/625 on official controls (which repeals Regulation 882/2004 as of 14 December 2019), a number of implementing and delegated acts are being published by the European Commission. .

The following regulations were published in October:
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1715 laying down rules for the functioning of the information management system for official controls and its system components (IMSOC Regulation). The IMSOC system should integrate the rapid alert system for food and feed (RASFF) fornotifying direct or indirect risk to human health deriving from food, the system for notifying and reporting the presence of pests in plants and plant products (EUROPHYT), the technical tools for administrative assistance and cooperation (AAC) and the TRACES system.
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1602 establishes the cases where and the conditions under which the Common Health Entry Document (CHED) is required. It does not apply to consignments in transit.
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1714 amending Regulation (EC) No 669/2009 as regards the model of common entry document, in order to make it compatible with the new version of the TRACES system.

At the Circular Plastics Alliance (CPA) high-level conference on 20 September in Brussels, ESA president Rolf Nilges, on behalf of European savoury snack makers, signed a declaration aimed at ensuring that 10 million tonnes of recycled plastics find their way into new products by 2025.

The declaration has been signed by almost 100 stakeholders in the plastics value chain who will work together to support the transition to a circular economy. The declaration sets out a number of objectives and voluntary actions to make further progress notably on product design for recycling, recycled plastics content and collection and sorting.

The CPA governance model is currently being finalised and the actual work is due to start by the end of 2019. The declaration remains open for signature by any interested stakeholders, including individual companies.

The Codex Alimentarius Commission has adopted a code of practice for the reduction of 3-Monochloropropane-1,2- diol esters (3-MCPDE) and glycidyl esters (GE) in refined oils and food products made with refined oils.

The code of practice provides guidance to prevent and reduce the formation of 3-MCPDE and GE in refined oil, by offering good manufacturing practices for application by manufacturers and other relevant bodies

European Commission president-elect Ursula von der Leyen has unveiled the line-up of the next Commission beginning of September. Mrs Kyriakides, of Cypriot nationality, who inherited the health portfolio, is a medical psychologist with many years of experience in the field of social affairs, health and cancer prevention.

Several topics are mentioned in her mission letter in relation to food safety and animal and plant health. She is notably asked to lead on a new ‘Farm to fork’ strategy for sustainable food; to reduce dependency on pesticides and protect citizens from exposure to endocrine disruptors; to improve consumer information especially on the health and sustainability of food products and further strengthen legislation in the areas of food safety and plant health.

With regard to issues related to food safety, she will work under the guidance of the executive vice-president for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans. With regard to public health matters, she will report to the Greek vice-president Margaritis Schinas.

All the commissioner-designates will appear before the European Parliament beginning of October. The full Commission then needs to be approved in a single vote of consent. The new Commission is expected to enter into force as of 1 December 2019.