The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking comments on recommendations to update the List of Bioengineered Foods (List) under the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (NBFDS). AMS seeks comment on four issues: (1) whether it should add insect-resistant sugarcane to the List; (2) whether it should add the modifier “virus-resistant”
USDA
OMB Releases Spring 2020 Unified Agenda of Regulatory Actions
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…
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…
USDA Publishes Final Rule on Review and Issuance of Agency Guidance Documents
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published a Final Rule codifying internal procedures that must be followed when issuing agency guidance documents. The Final Rule amends USDA’s administrative regulations by adding procedural regulations for the review and issuance of USDA guidance documents. The Final Rule adds a new Subpart Q, “Review and Issuance…
COVID-19 Update: FDA and USDA Issue Memorandum of Understanding Regarding the Potential Use of the Defense Production Act with Regard to FDA-Regulated Food During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently issued a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the potential use of the Defense Production Act (DPA) with regard to FDA-regulated food. Importantly, USDA retains its DPA authority for products subject to FDA jurisdiction. The MOU, however, establishes that FDA will…
COVID-19 Update: USDA Updates FAQs to Address President Trump’s Executive Order Invoking the Defense Production Act for Meat and Poultry Processors
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently updated its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) webpage regarding COVID-19 to include a section on President Trump’s Executive Order (EO) invoking the Defense Production Act (DPA) for Meat and Poultry Processors. These FAQs address the role USDA plays in implementing the EO, what meat and poultry plants should…
Court Decision Strikes Down USDA Final Rule Easing Sodium and Whole Grains Standards in School Meals
A recent court decision struck down a 2018 final rule by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), which had relaxed sodium and whole grains requirements for the National School Lunch Program and National School Breakfast Program (school meals programs). The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) and Healthy…
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: 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…