Quick Updates addon gives SQL error after uploading 20K product using Easy Populate

I have just uploaded a stack of new products (20k of products) using the Easy Populate Advanced module. The upload worked well. But this is where I have problems, since the upload, if I click on Quick Updates (Quick Updates Module) i get the following error message:

1104 The SELECT would examine more than MAX_JOIN_SIZE rows; check your WHERE and use SET SQL_BIG_SELECTS=1 or SET SQL_MAX_JOIN_SIZE=# if the SELECT is okay
in:
[select count(*) as total from products p LEFT JOIN products_description pd ON (p.products_id = pd.products_id and pd.language_id = '1') LEFT JOIN manufacturers m ON (p.manufacturers_id = m.manufacturers_id) LEFT JOIN products_to_categories p2c ON (p.products_id = p2c.products_id)]
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When I try to download a store store datafile via the Easy Populate module i get the following error:

MySQL error: The SELECT would examine more than MAX_JOIN_SIZE rows; check your WHERE and use SET SQL_BIG_SELECTS=1 or SET SQL_MAX_JOIN_SIZE=# if the SELECT is okay
When executing:
SELECT
p.products_id as v_products_id,
p.products_type as v_products_type,
p.products_model as v_products_model,
p.products_image as v_products_image,
p.products_price as v_products_price,
p.products_weight as v_products_weight,
p.products_date_available as v_products_date_available,
p.products_date_added as v_products_date_added,
p.products_tax_class_id as v_products_tax_class_id,
p.products_quantity as v_products_quantity,
p.manufacturers_id as v_manufacturers_id,
p.master_categories_id as v_master_categories_id,
c.categories_id as v_categories_id,
p.products_status as v_products_status
FROM
(products as p LEFT JOIN
products_to_categories as ptc ON p.products_id = ptc.products_id) LEFT JOIN
categories as c ON ptc.categories_id = c.categories_id

And the following error message if i try to download an extended store datafile:

MySQL error: The SELECT would examine more than MAX_JOIN_SIZE rows; check your WHERE and use SET SQL_BIG_SELECTS=1 or SET SQL_MAX_JOIN_SIZE=# if the SELECT is okay
When executing:
SELECT
p.products_id as v_products_id,
p.products_type as v_products_type,
p.products_quantity as v_products_quantity,
p.products_model as v_products_model,
p.products_image as v_products_image,
p.products_price as v_products_price,
p.products_virtual as v_products_virtual,
p.products_date_added as v_products_date_added,
p.products_date_available as v_products_date_available,
p.products_weight as v_products_weight,
p.products_status as v_products_status,
p.products_tax_class_id as v_products_tax_class_id,
p.manufacturers_id as v_manufacturers_id,
p.products_ordered as v_products_ordered,
p.products_quantity_order_min as v_products_quantity_order_min,
p.products_quantity_order_units as v_products_quantity_order_units,
p.products_priced_by_attribute as v_products_priced_by_attribute,
p.product_is_free as v_product_is_free,
p.product_is_call as v_product_is_call,
p.products_quantity_mixed as v_products_quantity_mixed,
p.product_is_always_free_shipping as v_product_is_always_free_shipping,
p.products_qty_box_status as v_products_qty_box_status,
p.products_quantity_order_max as v_products_quantity_order_max,
p.products_sort_order as v_products_sort_order,
p.products_discount_type as v_products_discount_type,
p.products_discount_type_from as v_products_discount_type_from,
p.products_price_sorter as v_products_price_sorter,
p.master_categories_id as v_master_categories_id,
p.products_mixed_discount_quantity as v_products_mixed_discount_quantity,
p.metatags_title_status as v_metatags_title_status,
p.metatags_products_name_status as v_metatags_products_name_status,
p.metatags_model_status as v_metatags_model_status,
p.metatags_price_status as v_metatags_price_status,
p.metatags_title_tagline_status as v_metatags_title_tagline_status,
c.categories_id as v_categories_id
FROM
(products as p LEFT JOIN
products_to_categories as ptc ON p.products_id = ptc.products_id) LEFT JOIN
categories as c ON ptc.categories_id = c.categories_id

I have read threads about setting SQL_BIG_SELECTS=1, but I am lost as to where to add this. Is there a way to set this globally?

My system setup is as follows: Zen Cart 1.3.8a Database Patch Level: 1.3.8