A comprehensive summary of today’s judicial, legislative, and regulatory developments in agriculture and food. Email important additions HERE.

LEGISLATIVE: Includes United States, Hawaii, Michigan

UNITED STATES

HR 7791 authorizes USDA to take certain actions to address emergencies, disasters, and supply chain disruptions (particularly the shortage of infant formula in the US) affecting participants of SNAP for WIC; directs USDA to require each infant formula cost containment contract to include remedies in the event of an infant formula recall, including how an infant formula manufacturer would protect against disruption to WIC participants in the state. Info here.

HAWAII

SB 2056 requires the state’s office of planning and sustainable development, in cooperation with the department of agriculture and land use commission, to conduct a study of the suitability of soil classification systems for the regulation of agricultural lands. Info here.

MICHIGAN

HB 5744 authorizes the state’s department of agriculture to regulate certain persons engaged in processing, manufacturing, production, packing, preparing, repacking, canning, preserving, freezing, fabricating, storing, selling, serving, or offering for sale food or drink for human consumption; to regulate the labeling, manufacture, distribution, and sale of food for protection of the consuming public and to prevent fraud and deception by prohibiting the misbranding, adulteration, manufacture, distribution, and sale of foods in violation of this act. Info here.

REGULATORY:  EPA, FWS

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Final rule establishing an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate when used as an inert ingredient in antimicrobial pesticide formulations applied to food-contact surfaces in public eating places, dairy-processing equipment, and food-processing equipment and utensils. Info here.

Final rule modifying the 2021 and 2022 statutory volume targets for cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel, as well as establishing the 2022 volume target for biomass-based diesel. Info here.

Notice announcing the availability of EPA’s progress report in meeting its performance measures and goals for pesticide reregistration during fiscal year 2019. This progress report also presents the total number of products registered under the “fast-track” provisions of FIFRA. Info here.

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

Final rule revising regulations for the nonessential experimental population of the Mexican wolf in the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population. Info here.

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

Final rule closing the Angling category northern area fishery for large medium and giant Atlantic bluefin tuna. Info here.

Notice announcing that NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to the Sand Island Pile Dikes Repairs Project in the Columbia River. Info here.