Laws and Regulations Committee Update – April 20 – 22, 2020
Federal Register
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Notices
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals:
Importation of Live Fish, Fertilized Eggs, and Gametes From Tilapia Lake Virus-Susceptible Species
Filed on: 04/20/2020 at 8:45 am Scheduled Pub. Date: 04/21/2020
FR Document: 2020-08422 PDF 4 Pages (96.5 KB) Permalink
FDA
Recalls
| Date | Brand | Product | Type | Recall Reason | Company |
| 04/17/2020 | Homestead Creamery | Unsalted Butter | Food & Beverages, Butter/Butter Product, Foodborne Illness | Potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes | Homestead Creamery Inc. |
Warning Letters
| Posted Date | Issue Date | Company Name | Issuing Office | Subject |
| 04/17/2020 | 04/16/2020 | Nova Botanix LTD DBA CanaBD | Center for Drug Evaluation and Research | CDER | Unapproved and Misbranded Products Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) |
CISA
Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce: Version 3.0
FSIS
Constituent Update
Apr 17, 2020 | PDF
- Update to the Import Library on FSIS Website
- Tips for Faster Label Approval Process
- COVID-19 FAQs
AskFSIS
Collecting 13 generic E. coli Samples in Very Low Volume Livestock Slaughter Establishments per 9 CFR 310.25(a)(2)
KIS™ Testing in New Swine Slaughter Inspection System (NSIS) Establishments
AMS
USDA to Purchase Up to $3 Billion in Agricultural Commodities, Issue Solicitations for Interested Participants
FNS
West Virginia Added to Innovative SNAP Online Pilot Program
DC and North Carolina Added to Innovative SNAP Online Pilot Program
USDA Approves Program to Feed Kids in North Carolina and Massachusetts
@FrankYiannasFDA
- RT @HarvardBiz: Integrating blockchain into supply chain management could eliminate transparency blind spots. https://hbr.org/2020/05/building-a-transparent-supply-chain?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=hbr
- RT @foodsafetynews: The FDA has been assuring the American public that there is no nationwide shortage of food, that local outages of certain products are the result of unprecedented demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. #FDA #FSMA
- Last year, #FDA called on all segments of the papaya supply chain continuum to work together to strengthen food safety practices. https://bit.ly/2Kfh42L Good to see this collaboration to further protect consumers. @UnitedFresh
@SteveFDA
- FDA & @FTC issued a warning letter to Nova Botanix LTD DBA CanaBD, which sells unapproved and misbranded cannabidiol (CBD) products for sale in the U.S. with misleading claims the products are safe & effective to prevent & treat #COVID19.
@SecretarySonny
- @USDA will be providing $19billion to America’s farmers and ranchers impacted by COVID-19. Thanks @realDonaldTrump for your unwavering support for Agriculture.
- This @USDA program will not only provide immediate relief for our farmers and ranchers, but it will also allow for the purchase and distribution of our agricultural abundance to help our fellow Americans in need. Read more here: https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2020/04/17/usda-announces-coronavirus-food-assistance-program …
@FDAfood
- #OUTBREAK UPDATE: Ongoing #enoki mushroom #Listeria outbreak investigation, @CAPublicHealth sample from Guan’s Mushroom Co is now confirmed to match the outbreak strain. Product was recalled on 3/23/2020. Add’l info will be shared as available. http://go.usa.gov/xvjdK
- Grocery shopping concerns? We’ve compiled info on: how to shop for food safely, assurances that there are no food shortages as distribution chains adjust, and how to maintain food safety at home. https://go.usa.gov/xv86k #COVID19
April 21, 2020
FDA
Food Safety and COVID-19 Q&A (Updated 4-20 to include new answers under “Food Supply” and “Social Distancing”)
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: Daily Roundup April 20, 2020
FSIS
AskFSIS
Collecting 13 generic E. coli Samples in Very Low Volume Livestock Slaughter Establishments per 9 CFR 310.25(a)(2)
AMS
USDA Provides Improved Access to Livestock Mandatory Reporting Data
FNS
USDA Approves Program to Feed Kids in Arizona and Illinois
Food & Water Watch
Group Calls for Immediate Closure of All Slaughterhouses with Coronavirus Presence and National Guard Mobilization to Support Food Distribution
April 22, 2020
Federal Register
Agricultural Marketing Service
Proposed Rules
National Organic Program:
Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices Economic Analysis Report
Filed on: 04/22/2020 at 8:45 am Scheduled Pub. Date: 04/23/2020
FR Document: 2020-08548 PDF 48 Pages (715 KB) Permalink
FDA
FDA Provides Flexibility to the Food Industry During COVID-19
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: Daily Roundup April 21, 2020
Recalls
| Date | Brand | Product | Type | Recall Reason | Company |
| 04/21/2020 | Ocean Spray | Pink Lite Cranberry Juice Drink | Food & Beverages, | Undeclared Sulfites | Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. |
| 04/21/2020 | Buckhead Meat and Seafood of Houston, Inc. | Frozen Flounder Stuffed with Seafood | Food & Beverages, | Undeclared wheat, soy, milk, fish, and eggs | Buckhead Meat and Seafood of Houston, Inc., a Sysco Company |
Warning Letters
| Posted Date | Issue Date | Company | Issuing Office | Subject |
| 04/21/2020 | 03/19/2020 | Nassif Wholesale LLC | Division of Southeast Imports | Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) |
| 04/21/2020 | 03/27/2020 | Doctor’s Signature Sales and Marketing International Corp. dba Life Force International | Office of Human and Animal Foods Division 5 West | New Drug/Misbranded |
| 04/21/2020 | 04/03/2020 | Portland Sandwich Company | Division of Human and Animal Food Operations West VI | Food/Prepared Packed or Held Under Insanitary Conditions/Adulterated |
| 04/21/2020 | 04/07/2020 | Fatima Brothers | Division of Northeast Imports | Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) |
| 04/21/2020 | 04/09/2020 | Prime Line Distributors, Inc. | Division of Southeast Imports | Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) |
| 04/21/2020 | 04/14/2020 | Allied Food Products Inc | Division of Human and Animal Food Operations East II | Acidified Foods/Emergency Permit Control/Adulterated |
FSIS
Notices
| Number | Title | Date Issued | Expiration Date |
| 20-20 | Sampling Supplies to Include Non-Sterile Examination Gloves | Apr 21, 2020 | May 01, 2021 |
FNS
Kentucky, Missouri, and Texas Added to Innovative SNAP Online Pilot Program
CSPI
Senate Coronavirus Response Bill Leaves Out Most Vulnerable
@SteveFDA
- To help meet consumer demand and support the food supply chain during the #COVID19 pandemic, @US_FDA is providing increased flexibility to the food industry. @DrMayneFDAFood shares FDA’s efforts in our latest #FDAVoices Blog: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-voices-perspectives-fda-leadership-and-experts/fda-provides-flexibility-food-industry-support-food-supply-chain-and-meet-consumer-demand-during
- We’re working closely with the food industry and @USDA to provide flexibility regarding federal food labeling and other requirements when possible, so consumers have access to the food they want.
- We’ve issued temporary guidances regarding nutrition labeling, menu labeling, and shell eggs that provide flexibility to restaurants, food manufacturers, producers and retail establishments to help support the food supply chain and meet consumer demand in this time of crisis.
- As we continue to work closely with our government partners and industry, our central goal when taking these temporary actions are to help ensure that food is safe, plentiful and available for consumers while we weather the #COVID19 pandemic #TogetherApart
@FDAfood
- ICYMI: FDA has heard your concerns about shopping for #food safely. We want to assure you there is currently NO evidence of human or animal food or food packaging being associated with transmission of the #COVID19 . More food shopping info here: https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-during-emergencies/shopping-food-during-covid-19-pandemic-information-consumers
- This National Minority Health Month empower your community to use the new Nutrition Facts label to make informed food choices. Use these free resources to get started today: https://go.usa.gov/xdexW #NMHM20