By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Issue number 1 – China is very unhappy that President Trump has imposed heavy tariffs on Chinese exports. Tensions have escalated. When I was in China with the Farm Broadcasters in June, we had a long meeting with our U.S. Ambassador Terry Branstad. He was challenging the Chinese unfair […]
NAFTA Deal and More Read More »
Earlier this week, the United States Senate confirmed Peter Feldman to be a CPSC commissioner, to fill the seat vacated by Joe Mohorovic. Mr. Feldman’s term runs through 2019 and he also has been nominated for a full seven year term to begin thereafter. Hopefully, the Senate will quickly confirm him for this additional term.
New Leadership Sets New Direction at CPSC Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Will President Trump’s nominee for Supreme Court Brett Kavanaugh be approved? We may know by the time you hear this radio commentary. I think he will. It would be a sad outcome if he is rejected. On another subject, recent meetings between Presidents of North Korea and South Korea
Earlier this year, FNS updated its Training Guide for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) retailers. This 18 page booklet is required reading for owners and managers of the more than 260,000 groceries, convenience stores, chain drug stores, and other retailers authorized to accept SNAP in exchange for eligible food items. In addition to detailing the
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service Updates Its SNAP Retailer Training Guide Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Vladimir Putin of Russia wants to raise the age for his citizens to receive retirement benefits. That is what we should do to reform our Social Security retirement program. Russian citizens have been protesting. Nearly 300 people have been arrested. They marched toward Red Square and the Kremlin. Our
This And That – September 2018 Read More »
Yesterday FDA withdrew its directive to remove and reserve the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) for Human Food regulations found in 21 C.F.R. Part 110. This is not groundbreaking as the cGMP requirements in Part 110 were codified into Part 117, Current Good Manufacturing Practices, Hazard Analysis, and Risk Based Preventive Controls for Human Food.
Part 110 Lives Another Day Read More »
In the two years since the last African agriculture forum in Ethiopia, the momentum has fundamentally changed. The pace of advancement has quickened significantly; the world has discovered that Africa is the future. That was sure the impression one got from attending the African Green Revolution Forum hosted last week by President Paul Kagame in
Opinion: Africa Rising Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I wasn’t going to go down this road, but a CNN discussion and article that I have in front of me should not be ignored. Here is their criticism – they used internal e-mails from USDA that show “big food lobbyists are working hand-in-glove with agency staffers.” Now, they
Agriculture’s Message Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block The agriculture industry in the U.S. is dealing with a lot of uncertainty. Falling prices and trade wars top the list. We expect our exports to grow faster than our imports. However, for 3 years in a row, that has not been happening. We are losing ground. Looking to
Our dear colleague and friend, Anson M. Keller, passed away on September 2, 2018, at the age of 82. Anson’s incredible intellect and tenacious spirit made him a pillar of OFW Law’s litigation practice. Anson joined OFW Law as Counsel during 2009, specializing in environmental and agricultural litigation. Before joining OFW Law, Anson worked at
Anson M. Keller (1936-2018) Read More »
Yesterday, FDA announced in the Federal Register, the Agency’s 2019 user fee rate for recognized accreditation bodies and accredited certification bodies, and the fee rate for accreditation bodies applying to be recognized in the third-party certification program. Under the current third-party certification program, as required by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), FDA established a
FDA Announces FY 19 User Fee Rates for Third Party Certification Program Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block It’s hard to believe, but summer is all but gone. We are looking at harvest season. Get that combine ready to go. Labor Day is next Monday. Speaking of Labor Day, I want to say how much respect I have for the hard-working men and women that labor
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by the National Corn Growers Association, CropLife America, and Renewable Fuels Association. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America. Thank you. And now for today’s commentary –
John R. Block: Reports from Washington – August 23, 2018 “Wild Fires” Read More »
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by the National Corn Growers Association, CropLife America, and Renewable Fuels Association. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America. Thank you. And now for today’s commentary – I am talking to you on
Down on the Farm August 2018 Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Good news – ethanol exports are up 33% so far this year. By year’s end, we should exceed last year’s record of 1.38 billion gallons. Turn to hogs – we have raised hogs on my farm all my life. I know that a hog barn doesn’t smell like flowers
Jack Block: This and That August 2018 Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block The current Farm Bill runs out at the end of September. Will we get a new one? If so, when? Thanks to the efforts of Senate Ag Committee Chairman Pat Roberts and Ranking Democrat Debbie Stabenow, they have negotiated a bill. With the leadership of Congressman Mike Conaway, the
Jack Block: Farm Bill Read More »
Federal and State laws protect the efforts that food manufacturers/distributors put into promoting customer recognition of, and trust in, their products. Use of a trademark and/or trade dress on packaging are the commercial means typically employed to distinguish products in the same general category. Responsible businessmen properly take care not to cause confusion about the
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I’m going to focus on some different issues today. Trade is in the spotlight. We can only encourage the U.S. and the countries that we have challenged – Canada, Mexico, EU, and China – to sit down and negotiate a compromise. We need a better deal. On the uproar
Jack Block: This and That July 2018 Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Before I focus on this week’s subject, I just want to say a few words about the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Scott Pruitt led the EPA as President Trump’s “deregulator in chief.” He aggressively worked to get rid of the regulatory burden that was weighing on our economy and
John Block: Trump Trumps NATO Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by the National Corn Growers Association, CropLife America, and Renewable Fuels Association. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America. Thank you. And now for today’s commentary
CFSAN/FDA’s Office of Food Additive Safety (OFAS) has replaced the original Everything Added to Food in the U. S. (EAFUS) inventory with an upgraded version – the Substances Added to Food inventory. This new inventory — which contains about 4000 substances and is searchable — includes information on: Generally recognized as safe (GRAS) substances in
EAFUS Inventory Replaced by “Substances Added to Food” Inventory Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Hello everybody out there in farm country. This is Rick Frank sitting in for John Block. This radio commentary is brought to you by the National Corn Growers Association, CropLife America, and Renewable Fuels Association. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of healthy farm economy and prosperous
Keep Food Programs at the USDA Read More »
The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act contained provisions aimed at preventing intentional adulteration from acts intended to cause wide-scale harm to public health, including acts of terrorism targeting the food supply. This was the first time that covered companies were legally required to create a food defense plan. Covered companies generally include both domestic and
Intentional Adulteration Mitigation Strategies – Initial Draft Guidance Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I am headed to China this week with 30 farm broadcasters and farm and ranch leaders. We will talk to Ambassador Terry Branstad and other U.S. representatives in our Embassy and spend time with Chinese government leaders. Given the level of trade war attacks that are in place, we
Jack Block: Trade and China Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Next week, I am going to China. Last November, I was asked by the National Association of Farm Broadcasters to lead a team of farm broadcasters and ag leaders to visit China. At that time, we all knew how important China is to our industry. We knew then that
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block It could be announced any time, but we still don’t know. Will the EPA provide a waiver to allow the sale of E15 ethanol blended fuel during the summer? Right now, the sale of E15 is restricted June 1 through September 15. National Corn Growers Association President Kevin Skunes
John Block: Issues Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block President Trump and Conservative Members of Congress have been trying to cut back on wasteful spending. The President wants a more efficient government by reforming civil service rules – a “merit system” doesn’t sound like a bad idea. Our federal government has 2 million public sector employees. Because of
Jack Block: This and That Read More »
After a nearly nine month delay, the United States Senate earlier this week finally voted to confirm the nomination of Dana Baiocco to be a commissioner of the CPSC. With this vote, one of the strange aberrations of the Trump Administration ceases: the 3-1 Democratic majority that the Administration and the Senate has allowed for
A Welcome Fresh Perspective at the CPSC Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I was on the farm in Illinois last week. I went into the coffee shop, talked to neighbors, and all the questions were about a trade war and the farm bill legislation. Almost everyone in the county is a Trump supporter. They understand that the U.S. runs a massive
Jack Block: Trade and the Farm Bill Read More »
FDA recently announced a potential massive overhaul to its Medical Device regulations. Specifically, the agency intends to “harmonize and modernize” its medical device Quality System Regulation (21 C.F.R. Part 820) with an international consensus standard for medical device manufacturing (ISO 13485). The rulemaking entitled “Harmonizing and Modernizing Regulation of Medical Device Quality Systems” appears on
FDA Announces Medical Device Quality System Regulation Change Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I was wondering if spring would ever come. We had snow on the farm just 3 weeks ago. Suddenly, things changed. The sun came out, and it began to dry and warm the soil. I’m on the farm this week, and almost overnight we have all of our corn
Jack Block: Down on the Farm Read More »
On May 4, 2018, the FDA issued its final rule extending the compliance date for the updated nutrition information on the labels of most conventional foods and dietary supplements. The final rule is consistent with FDA’s October 2, 2017 proposed rule, and implements a 1.5 year (approximate) compliance date extension: From July 26, 2018, to
FDA Finalizes Nutrition Facts Compliance Date Extension by 1.5 Years Read More »
On the same day that FDA’s menu labeling regulation became effective for compliance by industry, the agency published notice of the availability of its finalized Menu Labeling: Supplemental Guidance for Industry (May, 2018). This guidance is “supplemental” because FDA also already has published A Labeling Guide for Restaurants and Retail Establishments Selling Away-From-Home Foods –
Menu Labeling – Supplemental Guidance Read More »
Farmers, ranchers, and the whole ag industry have a lot to worry about. Start with farm income – our income has been cut in half over the last 3 or 4 years. There are some hopeful developments. The drought in Argentina and a production shortfall in Brazil may help to lift some of our prices.
Jack Block: Farmers Worry Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block A few months ago, did we ever think that direct talks between President Trump and Kim Jong Un to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula could ever happen? Of course, it hasn’t happened yet, but the process is moving that way. After all the sabre rattling and confrontational
Jack Block: North Korea Read More »
