A comprehensive summary of today’s judicial, legislative, and regulatory developments in agriculture and food. Email important additions HERE.
LEGISLATIVE: Includes Virginia
VIRGINIA
HB 830 establishes that it is the policy of the General Assembly to encourage, expand, and develop slaughter and meat-processing facilities through strategic planning and financial incentive programs; directs the state’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to develop a five-year strategic plan to increase total combined throughput capacity of slaughter and meat-processing facilities. Info here.
LEGISLATIVE: Includes Florida
FLORIDA
HB 909 provides that the Secretary of Environmental Protection has exclusive jurisdiction in setting standards or procedures for evaluating environmental conditions and assessing potential liability for the presence of contaminants on certain agricultural lands. Info here.
REGULATORY: AMS, EPA, FDA, FSIS, NOAA
AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE
Final rule implementing a recommendation from the Fresh Pear Committee to increase the assessment rate established for the 2021-22 and subsequent fiscal periods. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated. Info here.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Final rule establishing an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of cocamidopropylamine oxide when used as an inert ingredient at a concentration not to exceed 6% by weight in glyphosate formulations. Info here.
Proposed rule announcing the Agency’s receipt of initial filings of pesticide petitions requesting the establishment or modification of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various commodities. Info here.
Notice announcing that the EPA has received applications to register pesticide products containing active ingredients not included in any currently registered pesticide products. Info here.
Notice announcing that the EPA has received applications to register new uses for pesticide products containing currently registered active ingredients. Info here.
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
Notice that the FDA is denying a food additive petition submitted by Natural Resources Defense Council, et al., requesting that FDA amend or revoke specified regulations to no longer provide for the food contact use of 28 ortho -phthalates. Info here.
Notice that the FDA is opening a docket to obtain data and information on the use of ortho -phthalates for food contact applications. Info here.
Final rule amending the food additive regulations to no longer provide for the use of 25 plasticizers in various food contact applications because these uses have been abandoned. Info here.
Notice announcing the availability of a draft guidance for industry entitled “Policy Regarding Certain New Dietary Ingredients and Dietary Supplements Subject to the Requirement for Pre-market Notification.” Info here.
FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE
Final rule announcing that FSIS is amending its regulations to end the program under which FSIS inspectors provide fee-for-service certification that certain foods for dogs, cats and other pet food produced under sanitary conditions and meet compositional and labeling requirements. Info here.
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
Notice announcing that NOAA/NMFS has received a request from Vineyard Northeast, LLC (Vineyard Northeast) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to marine site characterization surveys offshore from Massachusetts to New Jersey, including the area of Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf Lease Areas OCS-A 0522 and OCS-A 0544 (Lease Areas) and potential offshore export cable corridor (OECC) routes to landfall locations. Info here.
Notice announcing that NOAA/NMFS has received a request from the United States Coast Guard for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to the floating dock extension construction project in Ketchikan, Alaska. Info here.
Notice announcing that a Letter of Authorization has been issued to Echo Offshore, LLC and its designees for the take of marine mammals incidental to geophysical survey activity in the Gulf of Mexico. Info here.
Notice announcing that NOAA/NMFS issued a Letter of Authorization to the St. George Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society to take marine mammals incidental to conducting aircraft operations, lighthouse renovation, light maintenance activities, and tour operations on the St. George Reef Lighthouse Station on Northwest Seal Rock. Info here.