For decades, Florida blamed declining oyster harvests on the State of Georgia. And, for decades, Florida’s elected officials convinced the public they were not at fault. These theories were rejected, in total, by the United...more
Cell-based or cell-cultured seafood products (seafood products grown in a bioreactor from tissue specimens from fish / seafood) are not yet commercially available, but the FDA is working to decide how they will be labeled. ...more
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the availability of direct payments for those hit hardest by ongoing trade disputes, offering financial support to certain sectors of the U.S. seafood industry. USDA...more
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that it has identified the first two regions where Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs) will be located in federal waters off Southern California and in the...more
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently held the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) does not have the authority to regulate aquaculture under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and...more
Report on Supply Chain Compliance 3, no. 11 (May 28, 2020) - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued two withhold release orders in May, one against a seafood vessel and another involving hair products imported...more
On May 23, 2020, a massive fire erupted on Pier 45 on Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, California. The fire quickly tore through a warehouse near the end of the concrete pier, causing its walls to collapse and firefighters...more
On May 7, 2020, President Trump signed an Executive Order on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth (the EO) with the goal of reducing regulatory burdens and developing a more robust domestic seafood...more
LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS & STANDARDS - FDA Issues Warning Letters, Consumer Update On CBD, Sparking Litigation Against CBD Cos. - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a consumer update on cannabidiol...more
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released an updated Fourth Edition of its Guidance for Industry entitled, “Fish and Fishery Products Hazards and Control Guidance, Fourth Edition – August 2019” (“the...more
LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS & STANDARDS - Illinois Adds Sesame to Allergen-Labeling Regulations - Illinois has passed a law requiring businesses to indicate on food labels whether a product contains sesame. The amended law...more
LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS & STANDARDS - Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Standardize Food Date Labels - U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) have introduced the Food Date Labeling Act, which aims...more
On October 22, 2018, the U.S. Court of International Trade denied the request of various federal agencies to stay an injunction banning the import of Mexican seafood caught with gill nets in the Gulf of California. ...more
LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS & STANDARDS - Mass. Governor Vetoes Raw Milk Bill - Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has vetoed a state environmental bond bill containing a provision that would allow raw milk sales at farm...more
North Carolina is prioritizing the marine fisheries and oyster industries to provide growth opportunities for non-urban coastal communities. Activities in the North Carolina House of Representatives and Senate during the last...more
Shook Partners Lindsey Heinz and Katie Gates Calderon, with Associate Hillary Nicholas, have authored an article for Law360 discussing regulations related to the use of photography during a U.S. Food and Drug Administration...more
From a national action plan on combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria in food-producing animals and a presidential task force on fishing and seafood fraud, to proposed rules on nutrition and supplement fact labeling, the...more
Domestic fish harvesters and seafood producers could face new federal mandates under a seafood traceability program being developed by the Obama Administration. Last month, the Administration announced the Recommendations of...more