The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Aug. 14 announced that it will delay the start of routine regulatory inspections at “small businesses” for compliance with the preventive controls (PC) requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)-related rule for Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Food for Animals (PC Animal Food rule) until the fall of 2019. Compliance dates for PC and current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) requirements established by the PC Animal Food rule are staggered based on business size as ... Read More
Subject-focused News
U.S. Department of Labor kicks off Safe + Sound Week
The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) is joining the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in asking NGFA member organizations and companies to demonstrate their commitment to workplace safety and health by participating in Safe + Sound Week, Aug. 13-19, 2018. DOL noted that more than 200 organizations, including the NGFA, already are partnering with OSHA to promote safety and health programs. “Implementing a safety and health program is one of the most effective ways to reduce injuries and illnesses, and improve business,” the ... Read More
Trump signs law delaying transportation worker ID “reader rule”
President Donald Trump on Aug. 2 signed into law a bill that halts a U.S. Coast Guard rule requiring the use of biometric readers for Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) cards at high-risk maritime facilities until an assessment of the program’s effectiveness is prepared and submitted to Congress. The TWIC program was established after 9/11 to improve security at high-risk ports. The legislation (H.R. 5729), the “Transportation Worker Identification Credential Accountability Act of 2018,” prohibits implementation of a rule that was set to take effect this month. Rep. John ... Read More
FDA announces plan to publish blueprint on antimicrobial resistance
By Dave Fairfield, Senior Vice President of Feed Services U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb announced July 31 that FDA will publish a blueprint on how the agency will implement additional steps to address antimicrobial resistance in veterinary settings. Gottlieb’s statement said the yet-to-be published blueprint will serve as a new, five-year plan and contain three key goals that FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) will focus on during fiscal years 2019 – 23: Aligning antimicrobial drug product use with the principles of antimicrobial ... Read More
IRS publishes proposed rules to implement Section 199A
The Internal Revenue Service on Aug. 8 issued proposed regulations to implement the Section 199A tax provision allowing owners of sole proprietorships, partnerships, trusts and S corporations to deduct 20 percent of their qualified business income. The Section 199A deduction, or the deduction for qualified business income, was created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and is available for tax years beginning after Dec. 31, 2017. Eligible taxpayers can claim it for the first time on the 2018 federal income tax return they file next year. The NGFA will be reviewing the proposed rule ... Read More
Exports and producers react to U.S.-China tariff battle
By Sarah Gonzalez, Director of Communications and Digital Media China announced on Aug. 3 that it will impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports, covering $60 billion worth of products, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) and some agricultural products if the Trump administration proceeds with plans to impose tariffs on additional Chinese imports. A report published by the USDA includes a list of the proposed supplemental tariffs for food and agricultural products only. China said the tariffs are in response to the Trump administration’s Aug. 2 announcement to consider imposing a 25 ... Read More
Senate Commerce Committee recommends confirmation of Oberman to STB
The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee approved, by voice vote on Aug. 1, the nomination of Martin Oberman to serve on the Surface Transportation Board, which provides regulatory oversight of the freight rail industry. The full Senate now can confirm all three STB nominees during its August work period. Oberman, who President Donald Trump nominated on July 5, enjoyed an uncontentious nomination hearing on July 26. He would fill the Democratic seat vacated by former STB Chairman Dan Elliott, whose term expires on Dec. 31, 2023. Two other STB nominees – Patrick Fuchs and ... Read More
AAFCO meeting focuses on ingredient approval, animal food safety issues
By Dave Fairfield, Senior Vice President of Feed Services The generally recognized as safe (GRAS) approval process for animal feed and pet food ingredients was a major agenda topic at the annual meeting of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) conducted July 30 – Aug. 1 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Discussion about the GRAS approval process centered around ingredients being marketed under “independent” GRAS determinations – an approval process established and allowed by federal law, but which does not involve direct oversight by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ... Read More
Senate names farm bill conferees; NGFA publishes farm bill comparison document
The Senate voted to move to conference with the House on the 2018 farm bill and announced its conferees this week. A total of 56 lawmakers have been assigned to the joint House-Senate Conference Committee, which will continue discussions during the House’s August recess. The Senate is remaining in session for most of the month to continue work on appropriations bills and nominations of Trump judicial and administration appointees. The Senate's nine farm bill negotiators include Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., as well as four other Republican conferees: Senate Agriculture Committee ... Read More
OSHA releases proposed revisions to injury and illness reporting
By Jess McCluer, Vice President of Safety and Regulatory Affairs The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released its proposed rulemaking to revise its electronic injury-and-illness reporting regulation originally issued by the Obama administration (formally known as: tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses). The proposed rule eliminates the requirement that establishments with 250 or more employees electronically file Form 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) and Form 301 (Injuries and Illnesses Incident Report), but requires that they file Form ... Read More
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