Here’s a summary of the provided legal acts:
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/321
This regulation amends existing rules concerning the use of maleic hydrazide in plant protection products. Most notably, it removes the restriction that previously prevented the use of maleic hydrazide on crops intended for animal feed. This means that farmers can now use these products on animal feed crops, provided they comply with usage conditions and safety measures. The regulation updates the annexes of Implementing Regulations (EU) 2017/1506 and (EU) No 540/2011 to reflect this change, while maintaining the approval expiration date for maleic hydrazide as October 31, 2032.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/319
This regulation imposes definitive anti-dumping duties on imports of valine originating from China. It also definitively collects the provisional duties that were already in place. The duty rates vary depending on the exporting producer, with the highest rate applied to all other imports from China. The application of individual duty rates requires a specific declaration on the commercial invoice. The regulation also provides a mechanism for new exporting producers from China to request the application of a weighted average duty rate under certain conditions.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/316
This regulation imposes definitive anti-dumping duties on imports of Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene Resins (ABS) from the Republic of Korea and Taiwan. It finalizes the provisional duties previously imposed. The regulation sets out specific duty rates for named companies and a general rate for all other imports from these countries. To benefit from individual duty rates, a specific declaration must be included on commercial invoices. New exporting producers from Korea can request the application of the duty rate for cooperating companies not included in the sample.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/320
This regulation updates data transmission requirements for European business statistics by amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197. It aligns the statistical classification of products by activity (CPA) with the updated CPA Version 2.2. The changes involve modifying tables related to short-term business statistics on import prices and country-level business statistics on product and residence of client breakdown of net turnover of enterprises. Updated product breakdowns according to the CPA classification are provided for voluntary data transmission.
Review of each of legal acts published today:
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/321 of 12 February 2026 amending Implementing Regulations (EU) 2017/1506 and (EU) No 540/2011 as regards the conditions of approval of the active substance maleic hydrazide
This Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/321 amends previous regulations concerning the approval conditions for the active substance maleic hydrazide, which is used in plant protection products. The key change is the removal of the restriction that prevented the use of maleic hydrazide on crops intended for animal feed. This amendment is based on a reassessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which concluded that the concerns that led to the initial restriction have been addressed.
The regulation modifies two previous acts: Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1506 and Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011. It removes the condition that Member States must ensure labels of treated crops indicate treatment with maleic hydrazide and include instructions to avoid livestock exposure. The amendments replace Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1506 and row 117 in Part B of the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011 with updated versions. These updated versions reflect the removal of the restriction on using maleic hydrazide on crops intended for animal feed and maintain the expiration date for approval of maleic hydrazide as October 31, 2032.
The most important provision is the removal of the restriction on the use of maleic hydrazide on crops intended for animal feed. This change means that farmers can now use plant protection products containing maleic hydrazide on crops that will be fed to livestock, provided they adhere to the conditions of use, including risk mitigation measures and the application of adequate personal protective equipment. Member States are still required to pay attention to the protection of consumers, as well as operator and worker safety during the overall assessment of maleic hydrazide use.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/319 of 12 February 2026 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty and definitively collecting the provisional duty imposed on imports of valine originating in the People’s Republic of China
This Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/319 imposes a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of valine originating in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). It also definitively collects the provisional duty that was previously imposed. The regulation follows an anti-dumping investigation initiated in response to a complaint by Eurolysine SAS, a Union producer of valine, alleging that valine imports from China were being dumped on the EU market, causing material injury to the Union industry.
The regulation is structured as follows: It begins by outlining the procedure of the investigation, including initiation, registration of imports, provisional measures, and subsequent steps. It then defines the product concerned and the like product, followed by a detailed explanation of the dumping determination, including the normal value and export price calculations. The regulation then assesses the injury to the Union industry, the causation between the dumped imports and the injury, and the level of measures necessary to address the injury. Finally, it considers the Union interest and sets out the definitive anti-dumping measures.
Key provisions of the act include:
* **Imposition of Definitive Anti-Dumping Duties:** Anti-dumping duties are imposed on imports of valine and its esters, salts thereof, originating in the People’s Republic of China. The duty rates vary depending on the exporting producer, with specific rates for CJ (Shenyang) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (31.3%), Bayannur Huaheng Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (53.8%), other cooperating companies (42.2%), and a general rate for all other imports from China (53.8%).
* **Condition for Individual Duty Rates:** The application of individual duty rates is conditional upon the presentation of a valid commercial invoice with a specific declaration certifying the manufacturer and the accuracy of the information.
* **Definitive Collection of Provisional Duties:** The amounts secured by way of provisional anti-dumping duties are definitively collected, with any excess amounts to be released.
* **Amendment for New Exporting Producers:** A mechanism is established for new exporting producers from China to request the application of the weighted average anti-dumping duty rate for cooperating companies, subject to certain conditions.
* **No Retroactive Collection:** The regulation concludes that the conditions for retroactive collection of duties were not met.
Compared to the provisional regulation, this implementing regulation confirms the imposition of anti-dumping duties, but with some revisions to the dumping margins and adjustments based on comments received from interested parties. Notably, the regulation addresses claims regarding the product scope, the selection of a representative country for determining the normal value, and various adjustments to the export price and normal value calculations.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/316 of 12 February 2026 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty and definitively collecting the provisional duty imposed on imports of Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene Resins originating in the Republic of Korea and Taiwan
This is Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/316 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene Resins (ABS) originating in the Republic of Korea and Taiwan. This regulation follows an anti-dumping investigation initiated in December 2024 after a complaint by Union producers of ABS. Provisional duties were previously imposed in August 2025, and this regulation now makes those duties definitive, adjusting the rates based on the investigation’s final findings.
The regulation is structured as follows:
* **Procedure:** Details the initiation of the investigation, registration of imports, imposition of provisional measures, and subsequent procedures including disclosures and hearings.
* **Product Concerned and Like Product:** Defines the scope of the investigation, clarifying which types of ABS are included and addressing claims regarding specific types like dry powder, mass-balanced ABS, and flame retardant ABS.
* **Dumping:** Explains the methodology and findings regarding dumping by producers in the Republic of Korea and Taiwan, including calculations of normal value, export price, and dumping margins.
* **Injury:** Assesses the injury suffered by the Union industry due to the dumped imports, considering factors like Union consumption, import prices, and the economic situation of the Union industry.
* **Causation:** Examines the causal link between the dumped imports and the injury to the Union industry, considering other potential factors such as costs of energy and raw materials, and imports from third countries.
* **Level of Measures:** Determines the appropriate level of anti-dumping duties based on the injury margin and underselling margins.
* **Union Interest:** Assesses whether imposing anti-dumping measures is in the overall interest of the Union, considering the interests of the Union industry, importers, users, and consumers.
* **Definitive Anti-Dumping Measures:** Sets out the definitive anti-dumping duty rates for specific companies and all other imports from the Republic of Korea and Taiwan.
* **Final Provision:** Includes a provision regarding interest rates for reimbursements following judgments by the Court of Justice of the European Union.
The main provisions of the act are:
* Imposition of definitive anti-dumping duties on ABS imports from Korea and Taiwan.
* Specific duty rates for named companies (LG Chem, Lotte Chemical Corporation, Chimei Corporation, Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corporation) and a general rate for all other imports from these countries.
* Requirement for a specific declaration on commercial invoices to apply individual duty rates.
* Definitive collection of provisional duties.
* Possibility for new exporting producers from Korea to request the application of the duty rate for cooperating companies not included in the sample.
Compared to the provisional regulation, this implementing regulation sets definitive rates of anti-dumping duties based on the complete investigation. It addresses various claims and comments made by interested parties after the provisional measures were imposed, leading to adjustments in the calculations of dumping margins, injury, and Union interest.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/320 of 12 February 2026 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 as regards references to the statistical classification of products by activity (CPA) established by Regulation (EC) No 451/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council
This is Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/320, which amends Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 regarding references to the statistical classification of products by activity (CPA). The main goal is to update data transmission requirements for European business statistics to ensure compatibility with the updated CPA Version 2.2.
The regulation consists of two articles and two annexes. Article 1 specifies that Annex I and Annex VI of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 are amended according to Annex I and Annex II of this regulation, respectively. Article 2 states the regulation’s entry into force is on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Annex I modifies tables related to short-term business statistics on import prices and country-level business statistics on product and residence of client breakdown of net turnover of enterprises. Annex II replaces Table 2 in Annex VI of the original regulation, providing an updated product breakdown according to the CPA classification for voluntary data transmission.
The most important provisions for users are the updated tables in Annex I and Annex II, which detail the new data transmission requirements and product classifications. These changes ensure that businesses and statistical agencies align their reporting with the latest CPA version, affecting how data on import prices and net turnover are categorized and transmitted for European business statistics.
