Written by M. Sean High – Staff Attorney
The following information is an update of recent,
local, state, national, and international legal developments relevant to
agriculture:
International
Trade: Public Hearing Scheduled on EU Beef Import Ban
On December 28, 2016, the Office of the United
States Trade Representative (USTR) published notice in the Federal Register of
a public hearing to discuss the possible reinstatement of trade actions against
the European Union (EU) for bans on beef importation (81 FR 95724). According to the notice, currently “[t]he EU
bans the import of beef and beef products produced from animals to which any of
six hormones have been administered for growth-promotion purposes.” The
announced meeting is scheduled to take place before the Section 301 Committee, in
Washington D.C., on February 15, 2017.
Raw
Milk: PDA Issues Warning about Contaminated Cheese
On December 29, 2016, the Pennsylvania Department of
Agriculture (PDA) issued a consumer warning regarding certain batches of raw
milk cheese produced by Stone Meadow Farm in Centre County. According to PDA, samples taken from the
dairy by department inspectors tested positive for the bacteria Staphylococcus
Aureus. PDA stated that “[n]o illnesses
have been reported that could be associated with the cheeses, which were sold
between October 2016 and mid-December 2016.”
Labeling:
FDA Extends Comment Period for Labeling of the Term “Healthy”
On December 30, 2016, the United States Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) published notice in the Federal Register that the
agency is extending the comment period regarding the use of the term “healthy”
in the labeling of human food products (81 FR 96404). Previously, the comment period was scheduled
to close on January 26, 2017. As a
result of the FDA action, the comment period has been extended an additional 90
days until April 26, 2017.
Labeling:
FDA Clarifies Compliance Date for Nutritional Labeling of Menu Items
On December 30, 2016, the United States Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) published notice in Federal Register of a final rule
clarifying the compliance date for the labeling of certain nutritional
information for menu items in certain restaurants and retail food
establishments (81 FR 96364). According
to FDA, previous notice stated that enforcement of the labeling regulation
would begin on May 5, 2017, but no formal change had been made to the
compliance date through rulemaking. With
the most recent notice, FDA formally confirmed that the compliance date for the
menu regulation is also May 5, 2017.
Farm
Succession: USDA to Offer Early Termination Opportunity for Certain CRP lands
On December 29, 2016, the United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA) announced that beginning January 9, 2017 the department “will
offer an early termination opportunity for certain Conservation Reserve Program
(CRP) contracts, making it easier to transfer property to the next generation
of farmers and ranchers, including family members.” According to USDA, “[t] he land that is
eligible for the early termination is among the least environmentally sensitive
land enrolled in CRP.” USDA stated, that “[n]ormally if a landowner terminates
a CRP contract early, they are required to repay all previous payments plus
interest.” Under the new policy, however, repayment is waived “if the land is
transferred to a beginning farmer or rancher through a sale or lease with an
option to buy.”
International
Trade: U.S. Wins Dispute Regarding Indonesia Trade Barriers to Agricultural
Products
On December 22, 2016, the Office of the United
States Trade Representative (USTR) announced that “a World Trade Organization
(WTO) dispute settlement panel has found in favor of the United States’
challenge to Indonesia’s wide-ranging restrictions and prohibitions on
horticultural products, animals, and animal products.” According to USTR, “[t]he
United States, working closely with New Zealand as co-complainant, filed this
dispute to address trade barriers in Indonesia that restrict the importation of
American fruits and vegetables (such as apples, grapes, and potatoes), animal
products (such as beef and poultry), and other agricultural products.” USTR
stated that “[t]he WTO Panel agreed with the United States on 18 out of 18
claims that Indonesia is applying import restrictions and prohibitions that are
inconsistent with WTO rules.”
Animal
Drugs: FDA Amends Regulation for Animal Drugs Used in Animal Feed
On December 27, 2016, the United States Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) published notice in the Federal Register that the
agency “is amending the animal drug regulations to reflect approval of 71
supplemental new animal drug applications (NADAs) and 35 supplemental
abbreviated new animal drug applications (ANADAs) for revised labeling
reflecting a change in marketing status from over-the-counter (OTC) use to use
by veterinary feed directive (VFD) for antimicrobial drugs of importance to
human medicine administered to food-producing animals in medicated feed” (81 FR94991). FDA stated, that where
applicable, the agency “is also withdrawing approval of those parts of the
NADAs that pertain to use of these antimicrobial drugs for growth promotion
indications.”
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Recent AgLaw HotLinks include:
- World Organization for Animal Health creates online portal to coordinate bird flu information - Feedstuffs
- “Farmers cultivating success as direct marketers” - MeatPoultry
- Results are back from OIG audit at Nebraska-based US Meat Animal Research Center - Brownfield
- Cost-sharing program for hemp research in Pennsylvania - PA.gov
- New report suggests U.S. sugar producers will be disadvantaged by GMO labeling rules - Brownfield
- Bird flu woes continue as outbreak continues to spread across Europe and Asia - Meatingplace
- Major agricultural accomplishments for Pennsylvania in 2016 - PA.gov
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