Key Takeaways:
• What Happened: Citing recently revised CDC guidance suggesting that the risk of surface transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is “generally considered to be low,” EPA announced that it is no longer...more
President Biden’s January 27, 2021 Executive Order 14008, “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad” ("the Order”) focuses unprecedented attention on the role that agriculture can play in combating climate change and...more
On February 5, 2021, EPA posted on its website updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) in connection with its Audit Policy Program. EPA’s Audit Policy, first created in 1995, provides important incentives for regulated...more
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA-AMS) published its final rule establishing the Domestic Hemp Production Program on January 19, 2021, effective March 22, 2021. The final rule...more
Key Takeaways What Happened: USDA is seeking comment on its intent to transfer portions of the regulatory framework governing agricultural animals modified or produced by genetic engineering from USDA to FDA....more
Key Takeaways -
• What Happened: EPA issued revised draft guidance clarifying the types of plant biostimulant products and claims about such products that trigger regulation under FIFRA.
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Key Takeaways:
What Happened: EPA settled with Electrolux for nearly $7 million in connection with the import of household appliances with antimicrobial-treated air filters that were not registered under the federal...more
On October 7, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a request for comment on proposed labeling for cell-cultured seafood products. 85 FR 63277 (Oct. 7, 2020). Stakeholders now have an opportunity to comment on...more
Key Takeaways:
• What Happened: EPA announced a new and expedited review process for surface disinfectant products with residual anti-viral efficacy claims of up to 24 hours, as well as a new category of “supplemental”...more
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• What Happened: EPA finalized new procedures for issuing, identifying, and maintaining Agency guidance documents....more
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What Happened: EPA proposed to exempt certain biotechnology-derived plant-incorporated protectants (PIPs) from FIFRA registration and FFDCA tolerance requirements....more
The California legislature is considering a bill aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from “working lands” (including agricultural, grazing, and forest) and “natural lands”. The bill also would encourage carbon...more
Key Takeaways:
What Happened: EPA issued a FIFRA Section 18 emergency exemption to the state of Texas to allow certain limited uses of a surface coating with long-lasting disinfectant properties....more
Key Takeaways:
What Happened: On August 5, 2020, USDA proposed a significant expansion of certification and recordkeeping requirements and enforcement activities under the National Organic Program....more
Key Takeaways:
What Happened: USDA published guidance describing two pathways for regulated parties to demonstrate that a product is exempt from federal bioengineered food labeling requirements....more
Late last week, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators introduced the Growing Climate Solutions Act, aimed at increasing and encouraging nature-based greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions in the agriculture and forestry sectors....more
Key Takeaways:
• What Happened: FDA updated its temporary hand sanitizer production policies to permit use of fuel- or technical-grade ethanol that contains certain impurities up to given limits.
• Who’s Impacted:...more
Key Takeaways:
• What Happened: In a new Compliance Advisory, EPA emphasized that pesticides and pesticide devices may not make false or misleading claims to be effective against the novel coronavirus, and warned of...more
Summary -
Stakeholders in the regulated community have a unique but time-limited opportunity to petition the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal agencies to either add or remove specific guidance...more
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published final amendments to its biotechnology regulations codified at 7 C.F.R. part 340 under the Plant Protection...more
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is recommending that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strengthen existing efforts to prepare for oversight of...more
Manufacturers of certain disinfectants and food-contact surface sanitizers containing isopropyl alcohol (IPA) will now be able to use unregistered sources of that active ingredient and may change such sources by notification...more
Key Takeaways:
• What Happened: EPA announced an expansion of its expedited review process to now include new antimicrobial pesticide product applications and amendments requiring data review.
• Who’s Impacted:...more
During the COVID-19 pandemic, governments have recognized an urgent need to ensure effective surface disinfectants, hand sanitizers, and other products that can be used against SARS-CoV-2 are available to the public. While...more
New cleaning and disinfecting guidance released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on April 29, 2020 includes an unprecedented recommendation to the American public to use unregistered commodity substances for...more