The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) recently released the Spring 2020 Unified Agenda of Regulatory actions, which outlines the rulemaking actions currently under development in each federal agency. This memorandum summarizes the major actions that may be of particular interest to the food industry that are being planned by the U.S. Food and Drug
FSIS
COVID-19 Update: Agriculture Workers and Employers Guidance; Meat and Poultry Facility Assessments Toolkit; Retail Food Establishment Checklist
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently released several guidelines for various segments of the food industry to address the COVID-19 pandemic. First, CDC issued Interim Guidance from CDC and the U.S. Department of Labor, Agriculture Workers and Employers (“the Interim Guidance”), which provides recommendations related to COVID-19…
Secretary Perdue Issues Letters to Governors and Industry Addressing Continuity of Meat and Poultry Processing Operations
Late Tuesday, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue sent letters to state governors and meat and poultry processing company leaders setting forth USDA’s expectations for continued operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. These letters follow President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order issued last week ordering USDA to take all appropriate actions to ensure that…
President Trump Issues Executive Order Invoking Defense Production Act for Meat and Poultry Processors
Late yesterday, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order invoking the Defense Production Act (DPA) to protect the meat and poultry production supply chain. In the Executive Order, entitled, Delegating Authority Under The Defense Production Act With Respect To Food Supply Chain Resources During The National Emergency Caused By The Outbreak Of COVID-19, the President…
COVID-19 Update: CDC and OSHA Release Interim Guidance for Meat and Poultry Processing Workers and Employers
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have issued interim guidance on COVID-19 considerations for meat and poultry processing workers and employers. This Interim Guidance, one of the most comprehensive to date for a specific industry, was developed recognizing that meat and poultry establishments and their operations…
COVID-19 Update: FDA Updates Guidance on Food Supply, Social Distancing, and Employees Positive for COVID-19; USDA Updates Guidance on Inspection and Export Services, Food Safety, and PPE
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently updated their respective questions and answers guidance to address questions or update their recommendations concerning food safety and COVID-19. FDA has supplemented its questions and answers guidance on topics regarding the food supply, social distancing, and responding to a worker who…
COVID-19 Update: FDA Issues Best Practices for Retail Food Establishments and Food Delivery; FSIS Issues Notice on Use of PPE by Inspectors
This post summarizes two recent steps by the federal government to provide food safety guidance in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. First, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a fact sheet and corresponding summary infographic on Best Practices for Retail Food Stores, Restaurants, and Food Pick-Up and Delivery Services During the COVID-19…
COVID-19 Update: FDA and USDA Update COVID-19 Food Safety Guidance Regarding Masks, Inspector Availability, and More
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently updated their respective COVID-19 questions and answers guidance. FDA updated its food safety questions and answers guidance on COVID-19 with additional information related to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) updated recommendations regarding the use of cloth face coverings.…
USDA to Initiate Rulemaking for “Made in USA” Claims on Meat and Poultry Products
In response to two petitions, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced that intends to conduct rulemaking to change its policy toward “Product of USA” claims for meat and poultry products, with an apparent objective of limiting the scope of products eligible for the claim.
Recently, FSIS announced…
What Food Companies Should Know About the Third Federal COVID-19 Stimulus Package (CARES Act)
On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act,” or the CARES Act. This is the third phase of federal legislation in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The estimated $2 trillion package cuts across nearly every segment of the economy, widely affecting companies and consumers alike, and…