Category: Department of Agriculture
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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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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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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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FDA, USDA Announce Joint Meeting on Animal Cell Cultures
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have announced a joint public meeting to discuss “the use of cell culture technology to develop products derived from livestock and poultry.” The meeting, which will be held October 23-24, 2018, will focus on “the potential hazards, oversight considerations, and labeling” of the…
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USDA Announces Dietary Guidelines Committee, Codex Meeting
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the intention to establish a 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee and has solicited nominations for membership. The committee will consist of 13 to 20 members and will begin meeting in late 2018 or early 2019. The U.S. Codex Office will hold a public meeting on September 26,…
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AMS Permits Younger Chickens To Be “Roasters”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has lowered the age requirement for poultry carcasses to be classified as “roaster chickens.” The previous standard required chickens to be eight weeks old and weight 5.5 pounds; according to a petition from the National Chicken Council, this standard prevented companies from labeling and marketing chickens…
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FSIS Proposes to Loosen “U.S. Inspected and Passed” Livestock Requirement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has proposed an amendment to a rule requiring that livestock carcasses be “marked with the official inspection legend at the time of inspection in a slaughter establishment” if the carcasses will be processed further at the same location. According to FSIS, the rule was…