On June 28, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) published a proposed rule “Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets,” which would define the types of conduct and...more
The House Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry issued their frameworks for the 2024 Farm Bill on May 1, 2024. The House approach emphasizes enhancements to the farmer safety...more
Several states have made attempts to provide the animal production industry protection against unlawful interference by enacting so-called Ag-Gag laws. A wave of litigation is challenging these laws as unconstitutional,...more
On November 2, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a final rule amending the National Organic Program (NOP) Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards (OLPS Rule). The OLPS Rule adds specific requirements...more
In recent years, consumers have expressed a growing interest in knowing where their food comes from and in sourcing that food directly from the producer. This style of marketing – popularly coined “farm-to-table” or...more
USDA published proposed Rule 85 FR 18471 on April 2, 2020 that would, "amend the animal disease regulations to provide for a National List of Reportable Animal Diseases, along with reporting responsibilities for animal...more
In response to concerns expressed by livestock groups and some in the biotechnology industry over the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) approval process for gene editing in animals, the Trump administration issued an...more
CBD, FSMA, Class Actions Among Topics at GMA Conference - Class action litigation, the legal landscape for cannabis and the evolving implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) were trending topics at the...more
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today a formal-agreement coordinating joint jurisdiction over the production of...more
LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS & STANDARDS - FDA Announces Modernization for Dairy Product Identities - Following his related statements at a conference, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb has...more
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,...more
In a speech at the National Food Policy Conference in Washington, D.C., U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb reportedly summarized the agency’s plans, including (i) defining “healthy” for use...more
Washington Bans PFAs in Food Packaging - Washington Governor Jay Inslee has signed into law the Healthy Food Packaging Act (H.B. 2658/S.B. 6396), making the state the first in the country to ban perfluorinated chemicals...more
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) recently issued a final rule withdrawing the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP) Final Rule published in the Federal Register...more
USDA Withdraws Organic Livestock and Poultry Rule - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a final rule withdrawing the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices Rule, leaving existing organic regulations in...more
Organic Group Objects to Withdrawal of OLPP - A group of organic food producers, retailers and certifiers has published a full-page advertisement in The Washington Post containing the text of a letter to Secretary of...more
Senators Urge USDA to Implement GMO Labeling - Several Democratic senators, with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), have sent a letter to the head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) urging Secretary Sonny Perdue to...more
FDA Announces Final FSMA Produce Safety Rule - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that the produce safety rule of the Food Safety and Modernization Act of 2010 (FSMA) is now final, establishing...more
As those of us fortunate enough to be outside of the reach of Irma watch with concern about the impact this storm is wreaking on Florida and its human and animal residents, it is important to keep in mind how we can all help...more
NAD Says Aldi Should Change Savings Claims Ads - The National Advertising Division (NAD) has recommended that Aldi, Inc. discontinue advertising based on a “market basket” comparison that claims consumers could save more...more