A comprehensive summary of today’s judicial, legislative, and regulatory developments in agriculture and food. Email important additions HERE.
LEGISLATIVE: Includes Utah
UTAH
SB 190 clarifies the distinction between allowable hemp products and medical cannabis products based on THC and THC analog concentration, grants Utah Department of Agriculture and Food rulemaking authority to establish performance standards for licensed independent cannabis testing laboratories, and rulemaking authority to further define standards regarding labels, packaging, and product forms that may appeal to children. Info here.
03/25/2022 and 03/28/2022
REGULATORY: APHIS, EPA, FS, NOAA
ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
Notice announcing the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s intention to request a revision to and extension of approval of an information collection associated with the national management information system for cooperative wildlife damage management programs. Info here.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Final rule establishing exemptions from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of butoxypolypropylene glycol and polyethers 1, 2, and 3 when used as an inert ingredient in/on growing crops and raw agricultural commodities pre- and post-harvest and applied to animals. Info here.
Proposed rule announcing that the Clean Water Act (CWA) states that regulations shall be issued which require an owner or operator of a facility to prepare and submit a plan for responding, to the maximum extent practicable, to a worst case discharge, and to a substantial threat of such a discharge, of a hazardous substance. Info here.
Notice announcing that the Safer Choice program in the Environmental Protection Agency is accepting submissions for its 2022 Safer Choice Partner of the Year Awards. Info here.
FOREST SERVICE
Notice announcing that the Forest Service is revising the Tonto National Forest’s Land Management Plan (Forest Plan). Info here.
Notice the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the renewal with revisions of a currently approved information collection, Secure Rural Schools Act. Info here.
Notice announcing that the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas is proposing to charge a new fee at one recreation site. Funds from fees would be used for operation, maintenance, and improvements of the recreation site. Info here.
Notice announcing that the Tonto National Forest is proposing to charge new fees at multiple recreation sites. Funds from fees would be used for operation, maintenance, and improvements of these recreation sites. Info here.
NATIONAL OCEANIC ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
Final rule prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/processors using hook-and-line (HAL) gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). Info here.
Final rule implementing an annual catch limit, catch target, and accountability measures for main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) uku for fishing years 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. Info here.
Proposed rule proposing regulations under the Tuna Conventions Act (TCA) of 1950, as amended, to implement Resolution C-21-04 ( Conservation Measures for Tropical Tunas in the Eastern Pacific Ocean During 2022-2024 ) and Resolution C-21-06 ( Conservation Measures for Shark Species, with Special Emphasis on the Silky Shark (Carcharhinus Falciformis), for the Years 2022 and 2023 ). Info here.