Highlights of the MITI Weekly Bulletin, Vol. 117 include:

Analysis of Malaysia’s Performance in the World Bank Doing Business Report 2011

Malaysia’s ranking in the World Bank Doing Business Report 2011 moved up two ranks to 21st position from 23rd in 2010. The number of countries covered by the survey was 183 - the same as in the 2010 report. The 2011 Report noted the initiatives that Malaysia put in place in the past year to enhance its business environment. Malaysia improved in five out of the nine indicators and maintained its rankings in four indicators.

AFTA Update : Thailand’s Legal Enactment to Abolish Quota for Tea, Coffee and Milk

Thailand has eliminated the Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) on imports of tea, coffee and milk effective 16 August 2010. ASEAN Member States, including Malaysia can now export these products to Thailand without any quantitative limits and import duties.

List of Authorised Food Additives in Europe - Updates on EU Directive 2008/84/EC

The EU Directive 2008/84/EC ensures that food additives are produced in accordance with the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) criteria specified in the EU’s Food Additives Legislation. EU countries will have to comply with amendments, adopted on 20 October 2010, to four existing food additives and four new food additives introduced in the EU Directive 2008/84/EC by 31 March 2011. With these amendments, several food and beverage products manufactured in the EU and those imported from third countries will be affected.

REACH : New Developments Regarding Substance of Very High Concerns (SVHCS) in Products

Article 7(2) of the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemical (REACH) Regulation obliges European manufacturers and importers to notify the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) on articles produced/imported, which contain concentration of substance of very high concerns (SVHCs) exceeding 0.1% (weight by weight) and if the volume exceeded 1 ton per year. To facilitate industry compliance with this requirement, ECHA is expected to publish Guidelines by December 2010.

OECD : Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) Toolbox Version 2.0