Category: Issue 495
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COOL Dispute Intensifies Before D.C. Court and WTO
A federal court in the District of Columbia will consider on August 27, 2013, whether to issue a preliminary injunction to stop the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from implementing country-of-origin labeling (COOL) program changes required by a 2011 World Trade Organization (WTO) determination that, as initially drafted, the rules gave less favorable treatment to…
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OEHHA Provides Tracking Table for Potential Additions to Prop. 65 List
California EPA’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has published a table providing information on the status of chemicals considered for addition to the Proposition 65 (Prop. 65) list under the authoritative bodies mechanism. “The table lists the authoritative body, the document or documents providing the basis for the possible listing, the endpoint (toxic…
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Visa Delays Affecting FDA Inspections in China
According to a news source, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) personnel have experienced significant delays in obtaining visas from China to staff food and drug inspection offices in that country. One staff member reportedly withdrew his application after waiting nine months for approval to work in China. The delays are seen as a setback…
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NOP to Modify Rules Governing Use of Substances in Organic Crop Production and Processing
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program (NOP) has issued a proposed rule that would amend the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances to permit the use of biodegradable biobased mulch film in organic crop production and the use of Citrus hystrix and curry leaves in organic processing. NOP has also proposed removing…
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Petition Proposes Expanding Safe Uses of Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has apparently filed a petition submitted by the Dean Foods Co. and the WhiteWave Foods Co. “proposing that the food additive regulations be amended to provide for the expanded safe uses of vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 as nutrient supplements in food.” In particular, the petition seeks to amend…
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FDA to Collect Information on Consumer Studies of Nutrient Content Claims on Fortified Foods
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has apparently signaled its intent to proceed with an experimental study of consumer responses to nutrient content claims on fortified foods by issuing a notice of the proposed collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget. First announced in the August 15, 2012, Federal Register, the study…
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FDA to Prepare EIS for Proposed Produce Standards
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced plans to prepare an environment impact statement (EIS) for a proposed rule that would establish standards for the growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce for human consumption. According to an August 16, 2013, FDA press release, the agency determined that an EIS was necessary based on…
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FDA Public Meeting to Discuss FSMA Changes
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced an upcoming public meeting slated for September 19-20, 2013, in Washington, D.C., to discuss regulations proposed under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) that would establish Food Supplier Verification Programs as well as new rules for accrediting third-party auditors and certification bodies. Intended to ensure “that imported…