A comprehensive summary of today’s judicial, legislative, and regulatory developments in agriculture and food. Email important additions HERE.
REGULATORY: AMS, EPA, FWS, FNS, FSIS, NOAA
AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE
Proposed rule proposing amendments to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances section of the USDA’s organic regulations to implement recommendations submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture by the National Organic Standards Board. Info here.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Notice announcing EPA is requesting nominations for an external expert panel to peer review EPA’s Biofuels and the Environment: Third Triennial Report to Congress (RtC3). Info here.
Notice announcing EPA has received a specific exemption request from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to use the insecticide clothianidin as a soil drench application to treat up to 125,376 acres of immature citrus trees to control the transmission of Huanglongbing disease vectored by the Asian Citrus Psyllid. Info here.
Notice announcing EPA has received requests by pesticide registrants to voluntarily cancel their registrations of certain products and to amend their product registrations to terminate one or more uses. Info here.
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Notice informing the public that FWS has reviewed recent data and, using updated population and demographic models, is revising take limits for bald eagles effective immediately. Info here.
FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE
Notice inviting the general public and other public agencies to comment on a revision of a currently approved collection associated with requests by State agencies to operate a Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to temporarily provide food assistance to households following a disaster. Info here.
FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE
Notice announcing FSIS intends to collect information using a web-based survey/experiment to help gauge consumer awareness and understanding of current “Product of USA” labeling claims on meat products and consumer willingness to pay for meat products labeled as “Product of USA” using the current and potentially revised definitions of the claim. FSIS also intends to collect information on consumer understanding of other “USDA” labeling on meat products, such as the “USDA Choice” label and the USDA mark of inspection. Info here.
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
Final rule approving and implementing final small-mesh multispecies specifications for the 2021 fishing year, and projected specifications for fishing years 2022 and 2023. This action also increases the whiting possession limit for certain trips and restores the in-season adjustment trigger for northern red hake. Info here.