Category: Issue 508
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EC Proposes New Directives to Ban Cloning of Farm Animals
The European Commission (EC) recently proposed two draft directives that would prohibit the cloning of farm animals in the European Union (EU) as well as the importation of cloned animals. Designed to address animal welfare concerns and provide “legal certainty in this field,” the first directive would temporarily ban cloning techniques and the sale of…
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EC Issues Report on Meat Ingredient Origin Labeling
The European Commission (EC) has published a report titled “Origin labelling for meat used as an ingredient: consumers’ attitude, feasibility of possible scenarios and impacts” that provides an overview of the potential consequences of mandatory origin labeling of meat used as an ingredient in food. Based on an independent study completed in July 2013, the…
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WHO Reports First Documented Human Case of Avian Influenza A
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported the first documented case of avian influenza A (H10N8) in a human patient from Jiangxi Province, China. Reiterating that no evidence yet indicates human-to-human transmission, WHO noted that the 73-year-old patient visited “a live bird market four days before date of onset” and eventually died from the disease.…
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FDA Extends Comment Period for Draft Risk Profile on Pathogens and Filth in Spices
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended until March 3, 2014, the period for submission of comments, scientific data and other information related to its draft document titled, “Draft Risk Profile on Pathogens and Filth in Spices.” Originally published in the November 4, 2013, Federal Register, the draft risk profile identifies the most commonly…
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FDA Extends Comment Period on Trans Fat in Processed Foods
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended until March 8, 2014, the period for submission of comments and scientific data pertaining to its preliminary determination that partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), the primary dietary source of artificial trans fat in processed foods, are not “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) for use in food. FDA…
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FDA to Revise Proposed FSMA Rules Affecting Farmers
According to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Deputy Commissioner for Foods and Veterinary Medicine Michael Taylor, the agency will revise proposed rules under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) “affecting farmers,” who have apparently expressed concern about the potential impact on their livelihoods. Among provisions to be revised and re-published for public comment in…
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Intentional Food Adulteration Rule Proposed
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a rule that will implement those provisions of the Food Safety Modernization Act addressing “hazards that may be intentionally introduced by acts of terrorism.” Under the rule, domestic and foreign facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food would be required to register and implement certain…