Category: Department of Agriculture
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Proposal Would Move Food Regulation to USDA
As part of a proposal to reorganize several federal agencies, the Trump administration has recommended that food-safety regulatory oversight be shifted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), combining the agency’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) with the current food purview of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). According to the proposal, the Government Accountability…
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National Poultry Improvement Plan Changes Accepted
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that April 2018 proposed changes to the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) will be adopted. The amendments update several provisions, including “those concerning NPIP participation, voting requirements, testing procedures, and standards.”
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Industry Groups File Petition to Ban Labeling Foreign Meat as “Product of USA”
The American Grassfed Association and the Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) have filed a petition urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to change its policy allowing meat produced outside of the United States to be labeled as a product of the country if it passes through an agency-inspected plant. The groups call for a…
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USDA Ends Discussion of Organic Checkoff Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the termination of a rulemaking proceeding that “proposed to establish a national research and promotion program for certified organic products under authority of the Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act of 1996.” The Organic Trade Association proposed the program in 2015, and USDA accepted comments on the…
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USDA Releases Proposed Bioengineered Ingredients Standard
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released the proposed National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard, which would establish “a mandatory uniform national standard for disclosure of information to consumers.” The proposal defines “bioengineered food” as food “that contains genetic material that has been modified through in vitro recombinant deoxyribonucleic…
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USDA Proposes Amendment to Allowed Organic Substances in Livestock
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has proposed amending the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances to approve elemental sulfur for use in organic livestock production as a topical parasiticide for fleas, ticks and mites. The proposal would also reclassify potassium acid tartrate from a non-agricultural substance to an agricultural substance and require use of…
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Organic Egg Producer Petitions FDA To Label Eggs as Healthy
An organic egg producer has filed a citizen petition urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to update the definition of “healthy” to be consistent with scientific evidence and the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for America (DGA). Specifically, Pete and Gerry’s Organics LLC asks FDA to amend the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to allow eggs,…
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USDA Seeking Nominations for Fruit and Vegetable Advisory Committee
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced it will reestablish the Fruit and Vegetable Advisory Committee and seeks nominations for “a diverse group of members representing a broad spectrum of persons interested in providing suggestions and ideas on how USDA can tailor its programs” to meet industry needs. The agency intends to include growers and…