#WorkforceWednesday: COVID-19 Pandemic, Election Rules Challenged, EEOC Limits GC’s Authority - Employment Law This Week®
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) announced that it will be evaluating “automotive gasoline and some oxygenated additives” between February and March 2025 per IARC Monographs – Volume 138. The additives...more
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Jan. 4, 2023, released a statement that there is no "safe" level of alcohol consumption that does not affect health.1 In collaboration with international partners, the WHO spearheaded...more
On July 14, 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a summary of two findings regarding aspartame, an artificial sweetener found in many consumer products. One finding categorized aspartame as “possibly...more
LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS & STANDARDS - USDA Proposes Rule Limiting 'Made in the USA' Claims for Meat, Poultry and Eggs - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a proposed rule that would tighten who can label...more
Key Points - The anticipated zero draft of the WHO’s Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response Accord was released on February 1. This process will intertwine heavily with the renegotiations of the 2005 IHRs. ...more
Monkeypox (MPV) is the latest virus to catch wide attention. But it is important for employers to keep in mind that MPV is not COVID-19. Nevertheless, there are steps employers can take....more
From pharmaceuticals to dietary supplements, preemption to public health, New York state and federal courts issued decisions in 2021, which further shaped the landscape in the medical and life sciences legal world. To prepare...more
On November 26, 2021, the World Health Organization ("WHO") designated the variant B.1.1.529 as a "variant of concern", named Omicron. Since then, the presence of Omicron has been noted in various jurisdictions around the...more
You have likely heard of the Delta variant of COVID that has recently been spreading rapidly throughout the world. As of mid-June, it had reached 74 countries, is in almost every state in the U.S., and is thought to be more...more
On February 24, 2021, we first reported on the most significant variants of the novel coronavirus then emerging across the globe and here in the United States. In that Alert, we included the prediction by the Centers for...more
In Washington: On Monday, Moderna announced that its coronavirus is 94.5% effective against COVID-19 in its phase three testing. The results make Moderna the second company to report preliminary data on a successful...more
In Washington: President Trump left Walter Reed Medical Center Monday evening despite his personal doctor, Sean Conley, saying he “may not be entirely out of the woods yet.” In a memo on Tuesday, his doctor said the...more
In Washington - On Friday, the CDC reversed its guidance advising that it was unnecessary to test people without symptoms of COVID-19. The change came after it was revealed that CDC scientists did not write it. The...more
In Washington - The House of Representatives returns from recess this week to join the Senate colleagues for the final work period before they adjourn in mid-October for the November elections. The likelihood of a deal on...more
Despite the challenges of addressing a previously unknown virus, development of an effective vaccine, soon, is a distinct possibility (see "Multiple Candidate Coronavirus Vaccines Being Developed According to WHO"). But as...more
USDA Accepting Comments on Organic Rule Amendments - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting comments on the Agricultural Marketing Service’s proposed amendments to organic regulations concerning oversight...more
The “next” pandemic in the USA is not a question of “if” but of “when.” Just as States scramble to win or shore up their victories against COVID-19, a second front appears. Can the USA win a two-front war with microbes?...more
Employers are important stakeholders in adopting policies and strategies to help curb the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), which has been increasing worldwide and in the United States. On March 11, 2020, the World Health...more
In Washington: The House will now require masks during committee hearings, per new guidance issued by the Capitol physician last night. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) had discussed the idea with Democrats during a conference...more
This week marks a stunning (literally) transition in our three-month COVID-19 State Closure/Reopening Project. Every state in the country is now squarely in the process of going green — reopening all sectors of their...more
In Washington: White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Monday said that President Trump is “open” to another coronavirus stimulus package and that he still wants a payroll tax cut, which many Republicans do not...more
Whenever you plan to reopen your restaurant, advanced planning is essential. The health and safety of your customers and employees must be a priority upon your reopening, as is paying particular attention to compliance with...more
What the FDA Requires for Food Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) regulatory requirements for food companies, including manufacturers and importers, remain largely unchanged...more
As concern about availability of personal protective equipment (“PPE”) continues to grow amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government continues to take action aimed at increasing the availability of PPE with important...more
On March 30, 2020, in response to the continued spread of COVID-19, California Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-39-20, authorizing temporary adjustments to certain standards related to staffing and licensing...more