Laws and Regulations Committee Update 6/22 – 6/27, 2018
June 22, 2018
Federal Register
Notices
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals
Filed on: 06/22/2018 at 08:45 am Scheduled Pub. Date: 06/25/2018
FR Document: 2018-13551 PDF 6 Pages (98.4 KB) Permalink
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Proposed Rules
Regulated Areas, Regulated Establishments, and Testing Protocols:
Phytophthora ramorum
Filed on: 06/22/2018 at 08:45 am Scheduled Pub. Date: 06/25/2018
FR Document: 2018-13560 PDF 32 Pages (254 KB) Permalink
FDA
Recalls
| Date | Brand Name | Product Description | Reason/Problem | Company |
| 06/21/2018 | Gaia Ethnobotanical | Kratom Products | Potential Salmonella contamination | Gaia Ethnobotanical, LLC |
| 06/21/2018 | Now Real Food | Zesty Sprouting Mix | Potential Salmonella contamination | Now Health Group, Inc. |
USDA
Secretary Perdue Statement on 2018 Farm Bill Passing the House of Representatives
FSIS
Agri Star Meat And Poultry LLC Recalls Beef Pastrami Products due to Possible Processing Deviation
FNS
USDA Supports Local Foods in Schools through Farm to School Grants
AMS
USDA Announces Extension of National Processed Raspberry Council Nomination Period
CSPI
Philadelphia City Council Passes Sodium Warning for Chain-Restaurant Menus
@FDAfood, @US_FDA, @SGottliebFDA, @FDA_ORA, @FDAMedia, @FDAanimalhealth, @FDArecalls
- Welcome #summer2018 not bacteria to your picnic. http://go.usa.gov/xNGb7 #FoodSafety
- Now Health Group Inc. Recalls Select Now Real Food® Zesty Sprouting Mix Because of Possible Health Risk http://dlvr.it/QY3t2S
- Planning on celebrating International #PicnicDay? Follow #foodsafety advice like “keep the cold foods cold” to make it enjoyable. http://go.usa.gov/xNGb7
- Gaia Ethnobotanical, LLC., Voluntarily Recalls Kratom Products Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination http://dlvr.it/QY5QPW
June 25, 2018
Federal Register
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Notices
Environmental Assessments; Availability, etc.:
Nuseed Americas, Inc.; Canola Genetically Engineered for Altered Oil Profile
Filed on: 06/25/2018 at 08:45 am Scheduled Pub. Date: 06/26/2018
FR Document: 2018-13589 PDF 7 Pages (184 KB) m Permalink
Environmental Protection Agency
Rules
Pesticide Tolerances:
Fluroxypyr
Filed on: 06/25/2018 at 08:45 am Scheduled Pub. Date: 06/26/2018
FR Document: 2018-13724 PDF 18 Pages (339 KB) Permalink
FDA
Recalls
| Date | Brand Name | Product Description | Reason/Problem | Company |
| 06/22/2018 | Honey Mama’s | Oregon Peppermint Cacao Nectar Bar | Undeclared Almonds | Nectar Foods Inc DBA Honey Mama’s |
FSIS
Actions to Take in Raw Poultry Establishments Exceeding Salmonella Performance Standards
USDA Launches Outreach Survey to Small and Very Small Meat and Poultry Establishments
Quay Corporation Recalls Pork Products Produced Without Benefit Of Inspection
Jun 22, 2018 | PDF
- Comment Submission on the Organization for Competitive Markets Petition on “Product of USA” Labeling;
- FSIS to Improve the Eligible Countries/Products Section of Website and Host a Webinar;
- Coming Soon: Small and Very Small Plant Outreach Survey;
- Reminder: PHIS Export Component to Launch June 29.
APHIS
USDA Launches Outreach Survey to Small and Very Small Meat and Poultry Establishments
USDA Proposes Lifting Sudden Oak Death Restrictions on Low-Risk Nurseries and Areas; Strengthening Restrictions on Higher-Risk Nurseries
AMS
USDA Settles a Case with Frey Cattle Company Inc. Resulting in a $4,000 Penalty
USDA Settles a Case with Christopher H. Arnaman Resulting in a $3,000 Penalty
07/17 Virtual Townhall: NOP Seeks Input on Upcoming Enforcement Rulemaking through Interactive Webinar
National Toxicology Program
NTP Annual Report – Fiscal Year 2017 now available
@FDAfood, @US_FDA, @SGottliebFDA, @FDA_ORA, @FDAMedia, @FDAanimalhealth, @FDArecalls
- Thank you to @SGottliebFDA for recognizing the efforts of NASDA towards implementing FSMA in a judicious and responsible way. We are proud to be part of the solution and look forward to continued conversations.
- In the early 20th century, medicines designed to rid poultry of parasitic worms were at the core of a lucrative industry of quack veterinary products that swindled farmers and jeopardized food safety #FBF https://www.flickr.com/photos/fdaphotos/42906400552/ …
- Nectar Foods Inc Dba Honey Mama’s Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Almonds in Oregon Peppermint Cacao Nectar Bar http://dlvr.it/QYDYgW
- SUNDAY TWEETORIAL: For those who follow me, you’ll know that the topic of this week’s #FDA Sunday Tweetorial is among the most critical: food safety. FDA takes our responsibility for assuring safety of the food supply seriously, and food safety is one of my highest priorities
- The US has one of the safest food supplies in the world. #FDA continues to make sure the abundant, diverse, and complex global food supply is safe, and that food imported into the US is held to the same standards as food produced at home
- FDA uses several tools to better identify foodborne illnesses and outbreaks. These advances in technology protect consumers, so let’s look deeper at some of these groundbreaking tools and their public health benefit
- Let’s start with whole genome sequencing (WGS), a powerful technique that determines the genetic fingerprint of disease-causing microbes with unprecedented precision. #FDA is building a WGS food laboratory network to protect consumers globally https://bit.ly/2xRAfsa
- WGS links human illnesses to identify if an outbreak is caused by a specific food. WGS compares the genetic fingerprint of disease-causing microbes in food to those isolated from ill consumers. Linking illnesses to specific food allows FDA to act quickly to protect public health
- FDA collaborates closely with CDC on WGS, as CDC has sequencing capacity across the US to perform WGS on pathogens from ill people, while #FDA conducts sequencing on pathogens identified in foods and settings like food manufacturing plants https://bit.ly/2M1RIUO
- FDA’s GenomeTrakr is 1st distributed network of food labs to use WGS. It consists of >60 federal, state, university, hospital & int’l labs. GenomeTrakr has sequenced >183k isolates and is regularly sequencing >5k isolates per month. NIH assists by storing & assessing the data
- By sequencing the DNA of pathogens, WGS reveals markers like genetic fingerprint and antimicrobial resistance, and offers clues about geographic source. This helps scientists respond more effectively to food contamination, allowing faster recalls and preventing illnesses
- Robust research has confirmed that WGS provides investigators with a new tool to determine whether or not consumers got sick from the same pathogen or a closely related cousin. This speeds up investigations by eliminating unrelated cases https://bit.ly/2tbncRl
- #FDA also is developing a new microbiological surveillance sampling program designed to identify patterns that may help predict and prevent future contamination by disease-causing bacteria https://bit.ly/2tgmW3F https://bit.ly/2M9pJCA
- To help inform consumers, retailers and restaurants during outbreaks, #FDA provides info about specific pathogens, the foods linked to them, and what consumers can do to protect themselves and their families. Our newest page talks about Cyclospora: https://bit.ly/2KbwuX7
- It may seem there are more foodborne illnesses lately, but we’re able to spot previously undetected outbreaks as we apply tools like WGS. By investigating outbreaks, we can determine underlying causes and take steps to prevent problems from reoccurring https://bit.ly/2tjX1YM
- It’s not enough to slow or stop an outbreak. Our goal, through regulation and use of technology, is to shift our food system from one that just reacts to problems to one that prevents them from happening in first place. Food safety is priority #1 from the farm to table
- #FSMA implementation is critical to our efforts but more resources are needed to fully implement the #FSMA rules at home and abroad; to provide technical support to industry and growers to get it right; and to conduct inspections to assure compliance https://bit.ly/2CjBNwE
- Recent outbreaks highlight the all-too-real consequences of foodborne illness. They also provide a roadmap of where we must head to ultimately prevent them from happening. I believe we’re heading in the right direction and over time we’ll see the benefits of our efforts
- Meet the key #FDA leaders dedicated to keeping foods safe and responding to hazards from contamination of all kinds, including toxins in the environment, bacteria from unsafe production practices, and intentional adulteration https://bit.ly/2MdoCBY
- #FDA’s food safety mission covers animals too. The Center for Veterinary Medicine works to keep animal feed and pet food free of the contaminants that not only make animals sick, but can have an impact on human health too https://bit.ly/2IiWrPr
- Leftovers from your #barbeque? Want to find out how long before they spoil? Check out this table of refrigerator & freezer times for storing food. https://go.usa.gov/xQhzX #foodsafety #foodwaste
- What an amazing plan from the always active @SGottliebFDA about tackling food safety in the US using #WGS technology. Moving from “reacting” to “preventing” Yes! Prevent that outbreak in 1st place @FDAfood @FDArecalls
June 26, 2018
Federal Register
Notices
Meetings:
Comprehensive, Multi-Year Nutrition Innovation Strategy
Filed on: 06/26/2018 at 08:45 am Scheduled Pub. Date: 06/27/2018
FR Document: 2018-13831 PDF 8 Pages (171 KB) Permalink
Notices
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals:
School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study-II
Filed on: 06/26/2018 at 08:45 am Scheduled Pub. Date: 06/27/2018
FR Document: 2018-13827 PDF 11 Pages (223 KB) Permalink
Agricultural Marketing Service
Notices
Meetings:
Plant Variety Protection Board
Filed on: 06/26/2018 at 08:45 am Scheduled Pub. Date: 06/27/2018
FR Document: 2018-13751 PDF 3 Pages (80.5 KB) Permalink
FSIS
People’s Sausage Co. Recalls Jerky and Meat Stick Products Produced without an Approved Voluntary Grant of Inspection
Recall Notification Report 054-2018 (Ham Products)
APHIS
Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment and Preliminary Plant Pest Risk Assessment for Petition to Deregulate GE Canola with Altered Oil Profile
AMS
USDA Fresh Vegetable- Red Potatoes Purchase Program Announced
USDA Frozen Fruit Purchase Program Announced
@FDAfood, @US_FDA, @SGottliebFDA, @FDA_ORA, @FDAMedia, @FDAanimalhealth, @FDArecalls
- #FDA is reporting additional kratom-containing products have been found to be contaminated with Salmonella. More info on the brands/companies assoc. with newly reported products & the agency’s concerns about the safety risks of kratom is available online: https://go.usa.gov/xnFeJ
- In addition to concerns raised by Salmonella outbreak, #FDA continues to warn against consuming any kratom product. There are no FDA-approved uses for kratom and the agency has received concerning reports about its safety, incl. deaths assoc. with its use: https://go.usa.gov/xnFee
- The contaminated kratom products do not appear to share a common source and are not genetically related. This suggests that contamination is not limited to a single source, but may be found among many different kratom sources or suppliers: https://go.usa.gov/xnFeJ