Category: U.S. Government and Regulatory Agencies
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Some FDA Inspectors Called to Work During Shutdown
In a series of tweets, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb announced that about 200 food investigators—of 550—for the agency’s Office of Human and Animal Food Operations have been working during the federal government’s partial shutdown, with additional staff possibly “on the way depending on needs.” Gottlieb further noted which food operations…
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CFS Files Petition to Ban Hydroponic Agriculture in Organic Food
The Center for Food Safety (CFS) has filed a petition recommending that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibit the use of hydroponic agriculture in the cultivation of organic food. “Hydroponic production systems are fundamentally different from organic production systems as defined by federal law—they do not promote soil health or conserve biodiversity,” the petition…
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Oregon Senators Urge FDA to Update CBD Regulations
Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) have sent a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting an update to federal regulations on cannabidiol (CBD) to “give U.S. producers more flexibility in the production, consumption, and sale of hemp products.” Wyden and Merkley urge FDA to answer a series of clarifying…
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USDA Releases GMO Labeling Standard
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Agricultural Marketing Service has released the final National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (NBFDS), which will require food manufacturers, importers and other entities to indicate on a product’s label whether it was made with genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The rule applies to food products in which the predominant ingredient is…
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FDA Issues Uniform Compliance Date, Technical Amendments to Nutrition Facts Panel
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established January 1, 2022, as “the uniform compliance date for food labeling regulations that are published on or after January 1, 2019, and on or before December 31, 2020” to help “minimize the economic impact of label changes.” The agency also issued technical amendments to the Nutrition…
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USDA Redistributes Responsibilities Among Agencies
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reallocated responsibilities between its agencies, resulting in the elimination of the Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA). The Agricultural Marketing Service will absorb GIPSA’s previous responsibilities as well as some program areas formerly overseen by the Farm Service Agency. The rule took effect November 29, 2018, finalizing…
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USDA, FDA Announce Joint Regulation of Cell-Cultured Livestock and Poultry Products
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have announced after “several thoughtful discussions” that both agencies “should jointly oversee the production of cell-cultured food products derived from livestock and poultry.” The agencies’ statement announces a “joint regulatory framework wherein FDA oversees cell collection, cell banks, and cell growth and differentiation”…
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NOSB Announces Meeting on Organic Standards
The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) has announced a meeting to be held April 24-26, 2019, that will include a discussion and vote on recommendations for updates to U.S. organic standards. The deadline to submit written comments is April 4, 2019, with the same deadline applying to those who intend to provide oral comments at…