Category: Department of Agriculture
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Agencies Seek Comments on Agricultural Innovations, Trade
The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and State are accepting comments on the subjects discussed at the 2018 Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Informal North American Regional Conference. Subjects include “agri-food trade and global food security; gender equality and the empowerment of women; agricultural innovations; and FAO’s work in emergencies and emerging threats.”
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GAO Issues Food Safety Reports for Arsenic and Pathogens
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has announced new food safety recommendations for managing the risk of arsenic in rice and efforts to reduce pathogens in meat and poultry products. Following a request to review issues related to arsenic in rice, GAO determined that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not updated its…
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Advocacy Groups File Letter in Opposition to Meat Labeling Petition
The Good Food Institute (GFI), with a group of plant-based and “clean” meat companies, has sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) responding to a petition filed by the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association requesting that the agency restrict the definitions of “beef” and “meat” to products derived from live animals. GFI argues that…
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Agriculture Committee Introduces 2018 Farm Bill
The U.S. House of Representatives’ Agriculture Committee has introduced the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (Farm Bill). The bill includes provisions on farm policy, regulatory reform, animal health and specialty and organic crops. According to the committee’s highlights, “One of the most consistent complaints policymakers hear from farmers and ranchers is about burdensome regulations.…
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USDA Codex Meeting Announced
The Office of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will host a public meeting on May 31, 2018, to provide information about the agenda items and U.S. positions for the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission to be held in Rome, Italy, on July 2-6, 2018.…
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USDA Proposes Changes to National Poultry Improvement Plan
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has proposed multiple amendments to the National Poultry Improvement Plan, including changes to committee participation and testing procedures for avian influenza, typhoid and other diseases. Public comments will be accepted through May 9, 2018.
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Updated National List Includes Carrageenan
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the renewal of 17 substances for the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances, which determines which synthetic substances can be used in organic farming. Included on the list is carrageenan; USDA found that “potential substitutes do not adequately replicate the functions of carrageenan across the broad…
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USDA Releases Animal Traceability Report From Working Group
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released Animal Disease Traceability: Summary of Program Reviews and Proposed Directions from State-Federal Working Group, an overview report of the Animal Disease Traceability Program (ADT) that includes a summary of stakeholder feedback and preliminary recommendations to improve the program. According to the report, an internal review of ADT…