“I have been around food and agriculture since I learned to walk. Clients can depend on me to speak their language and provide experienced counsel to navigate regulatory issues and provide vigorous representation.“
John G. Dillard
Principal
- Washington, DC
- jdillard@ofwlaw.com
- (202) 518-6349
John Dillard draws on his extensive practical and legal experience to provide knowledgeable and effective regulatory and litigation counsel to OFW Law’s food and agriculture clients. He also serves as General Counsel to several trade associations in the food and agriculture sector.
Food Safety and Labeling
John counsels numerous meat and poultry clients regulated by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) as well as food manufacturers regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. John counsels clients in a variety of food safety and labeling matters, including:
- Advising clients on inspection and enforcement matters arising under the Federal Meat Inspection Act, Poultry Products Inspection Act, Egg Products Inspection Act, and the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act
- Representing clients in FSIS and FDA enforcement investigations as well as civil and criminal enforcement proceedings before USDA, FDA, and federal courts
- Assisting FSIS and FDA-inspected clients with food recalls
- Advising clients on compliance with the regulations promulgated under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). John has completed training to be a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual for both human and animal food facilities.
- Advising food manufacturers, restaurants, and retailers on food labeling and advertising matters to assist clients in complying with labeling regulations and minimize the risk of labeling enforcement and consumer fraud actions
Feed and Pet Food Industry
John also has a robust animal food practice. He advises livestock and poultry feed and pet food manufacturers on compliance with FDA regulations, including CGMP, Hazard Analysis, and Preventive Controls required under FSMA. He advises feed and pet food clients on inspection, enforcement, and labeling matters. He also assists clients with animal food ingredient approval matters.
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
John assists clients with numerous matters that are regulated by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service. This includes:
- Advising livestock and poultry dealers, stockyards (market agencies), packers and poultry processors on compliance with the Packers and Stockyards Act. John has also represented several clients in enforcement actions initiated by the Packers and Stockyards Administration (formerly GIPSA).
- Counseling clients on compliance with USDA’s National Organic Program regulations
- Advising clients on USDA meat grading matters
- Counseling clients on the USDA Process Verified Program
Litigation
John also represents clients in litigation in state and federal civil matters and USDA administrative enforcement proceedings. He has litigated cases involving Clean Water Act disputes, livestock nuisance odor torts, Packers and Stockyards Act enforcement, Animal Welfare Act enforcement, biotech seed patenting, country-of-origin labeling requirements, and Native American agriculture. John also regularly serves as co-counsel in major food litigation to provide advise pertaining to FSIS and FDA regulations.
General Counsel
John also provides general counsel services to several food and agricultural trade associations. In this role, he provides advice on corporate governance, contract drafting and evaluation, antitrust, director fiduciary responsibilities, and employment matters.
Practice Areas
- Packers & Stockyards Act
- National Organic Program
- Cannabis
- PACA
- Trade Association
- Enforcement & Litigation
- Inspections
- Meat & Poultry
- Feed and Pet Food
- Food Labeling & Advertisement
- Food Service, Restaurants & Retailers
- Food Recalls
- Customs & Import/Export Regulations
- Trade Policy & Regulations
- Checkoff Programs
- FDA Food Law and Food Safety
- Facility Registrations
- Due Diligence
- Lobbying & Public Policy
- Native American Issues
- Environmental Law
Past Experience
- USDA Economist
- Agribusiness Consultant
- Beef and poultry production background
Credentials
Education
Purdue University - M.S. in Agricultural Economics (2007)
Virginia Tech - B.S.(2x) Animal and Poultry Sciences, Agricultural and Applied Economics
Bar Admissions
Court Admissions
U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
Leadership & Community
John is an active member of the American Agricultural Law Association. He is also a prolific writer and speaker on legal and policy matters pertaining to food and agriculture. He writes a regular column for Farm Journal and National Provisioner.
