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Agriculture & Agribusiness

USDA Announces Funding for Climate-Smart Agriculture Projects

USDA, Agriculture & Agribusiness, Food Manufacturing, Processing, and Marketing /

On Monday, February 7, 2022, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack delivered an announcement that USDA would invest“$1 billion in Climate Smart Commodities, Expanding Markets, Strengthening Rural America.” Titled “Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities,” USDA has committed to finance projects that expand the market for U.S. agricultural and forestry products that use “climate-smart […]

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Farmers and Ranchers Can Now Access Online Reporting Portal to Report Potentially Unfair and Anticompetitive Practices

Agriculture & Agribusiness, Food Manufacturing, Processing, and Marketing, Government Relations, USDA /

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) launched an online reporting portal, located at USDA’s Farmer Fairness website, to advance the goals of the “Biden-Harris Administration’s Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain” (the Action Plan).   By way of review,

Farmers and Ranchers Can Now Access Online Reporting Portal to Report Potentially Unfair and Anticompetitive Practices Read More »

January Food and Agriculture Regulatory Recap

USDA, Agriculture & Agribusiness, FDA, Food Distribution & International Trade, Food Manufacturing, Processing, and Marketing, USDA FSIS /

OFW’s Food & Agriculture team regularly monitors announcements and policy issuances from FDA, USDA, and other agencies to keep our clients apprised of regulatory developments that may impact their business. Here are a few of the developments from January that we took note of. If you have any questions or would like more information, please

January Food and Agriculture Regulatory Recap Read More »

The National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard Is Now in Effect

Agriculture & Agribusiness, FDA, Food Distribution & International Trade, Food Manufacturing, Processing, and Marketing, USDA /

As of January 1, 2022, foods that are deemed “bioengineered” must be accompanied by labels disclosing that the food is bioengineered or contains a bioengineered ingredient. This disclosure requirement is the culmination of a decades-long battle and a legislative compromise over what has been commonly known as “GMO labeling.” After multiple unsuccessful West Coast ballot

The National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard Is Now in Effect Read More »

December Food and Agriculture Regulatory Recap

Agriculture & Agribusiness, FDA, Food Distribution & International Trade, Food Manufacturing, Processing, and Marketing /

OFW’s Food & Agriculture team regularly monitors announcements and policy issuances from FDA, USDA, and other agencies to keep our clients apprised of regulatory developments that may impact their business. Here are a few of the developments from December that we took note of. If you have any questions or would like more information, please

December Food and Agriculture Regulatory Recap Read More »

FTC Issues Orders to Major Retailers, Wholesalers, and Product Suppliers Regarding Supply Chain Disruptions

Agriculture & Agribusiness, Food Distribution & International Trade, Food Manufacturing, Processing, and Marketing /

On November 29, 2021, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ordered nine large retailers, wholesalers, and consumer good suppliers to provide “detailed information” to the FTC.  The FTC explains that it is seeking this information to “shed light on the causes behind ongoing supply chain disruptions and how these disruptions are causing serious and ongoing hardships

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6th Circuit Selected in Lottery to Hear Lawsuits against OSHA ETS Vaccine and Testing Mandate

Agriculture & Agribusiness, CPSC, EPA, FDA, Government Relations, Health Care, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Public Policy, USDA, USDA FSIS /

On November 16, 2021, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, through a lottery system, drew the 6th Circuit as the U.S. Court of Appeals that will hear the consolidated lawsuits against the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) published in the Federal Register on November 5, 2021. The OSHA ETS, which

6th Circuit Selected in Lottery to Hear Lawsuits against OSHA ETS Vaccine and Testing Mandate Read More »

USTR/USDA Holds Open Meeting to Discuss China Decrees 248 and 249

Agriculture & Agribusiness, Food Distribution & International Trade, Food Manufacturing, Processing, and Marketing, For Export, Government Relations, USDA, USDA FSIS, USTR /

On Tuesday, November 16th, 2021, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) held an informal informational meeting on the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China’s (GACC) Decrees 248 and 249 affecting U.S. agricultural exports. The Decrees, which were published in 2019, set out new

USTR/USDA Holds Open Meeting to Discuss China Decrees 248 and 249 Read More »

The Potential Time Bomb of African Swine Fever

Agriculture & Agribusiness, FDA, Food Distribution & International Trade, Food Manufacturing, Processing, and Marketing, For Export, USDA /

OFW Law’s John Dillard is a frequent contributor to Farm Journal, the premiere U.S. farm magazine. His latest contribution covers African Swine Fever. African swine fever (ASF) is a nasty bug and it’s getting closer to the U.S. The highly contagious viral infection doesn’t infect humans, but it is 100% fatal to hogs.  Countries where

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UPDATE: Federal Contractor Vaccine Mandate

Agriculture & Agribusiness, FDA, Food Manufacturing, Processing, and Marketing, Government Relations, Health Care, Healthcare, USDA, USDA FSIS /

Federal Contractors are being given additional time and flexibility to address the vaccination mandate – Employees must be fully vaccinated by January 18, 2022.   The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Contracting Officers Have Enormous Discretion To Add Vaccine Mandate Clause to Product Contracts.  

UPDATE: Federal Contractor Vaccine Mandate Read More »

Opinion: Needed: A Second White House Nutrition Conference by Marshall Matz

Agriculture & Agribusiness /

Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) have introduced legislation calling for a second White House Conference on Nutrition. They are correct; it is time. The first White House Conference on Food, Nutrition and Health was conducted by President Richard Nixon in 1969. President Nixon called it a “moral imperative.”  He continued: “This nation

Opinion: Needed: A Second White House Nutrition Conference by Marshall Matz Read More »

October Food and Agriculture Regulatory Recap

Agriculture & Agribusiness, EPA, FDA, Food Distribution & International Trade, Food Manufacturing, Processing, and Marketing, Uncategorized, USDA, USDA FSIS /

OFW’s Food & Agriculture team regularly monitors announcements and policy issuances from FDA, USDA, and other agencies to keep our clients apprised of regulatory developments that may impact their business. Here are a few of the developments from October that we took note of. If you have any questions or would like more information, please

October Food and Agriculture Regulatory Recap Read More »

Farmland AFIDA

National Agricultural Law Center to Host Webinar on Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land, AFIDA

USDA, Agriculture & Agribusiness /

Harrison Pittman of the National Agricultural Law Center (NALC) will be hosting a webinar discussing laws pertaining to the foreign ownership of agricultural land tomorrow (Oct. 20) at Noon (Eastern). The webinar will discuss federal and state laws pertaining to foreign ownership of agricultural land, such as the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA), as

National Agricultural Law Center to Host Webinar on Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land, AFIDA Read More »

The FOREST Act of 2021 – Senate Bill Prohibiting the Importation of Products Produced on Land Undergoing Illegal Deforestation

Agriculture & Agribusiness, Food Distribution & International Trade, Food Manufacturing, Processing, and Marketing /

Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) announced today the introduction of the “Fostering Overseas Rule of Law and Environmentally Sound Trade Act of 2021” (“FOREST Act”). The text of the FOREST Act is available here.  The FOREST Act addresses the environmental and human consequences of illegal deforestation. The addition to the Tariff Act

The FOREST Act of 2021 – Senate Bill Prohibiting the Importation of Products Produced on Land Undergoing Illegal Deforestation Read More »

Good News for SNAP Retailers: FNS Increases SNAP Benefits for Fiscal Year 2022

Agriculture & Agribusiness, Food Manufacturing, Processing, and Marketing, Litigation, USDA /

The beginning of the new federal fiscal year on October 1 brought welcome news to 45 million SNAP beneficiaries across the country and to more than 250,000 grocery stores, convenience stores, and other retailers authorized to redeem SNAP benefits.  On October 1, 2021, average SNAP benefits increased by $35.24 per person, per month.  USDA’s Food

Good News for SNAP Retailers: FNS Increases SNAP Benefits for Fiscal Year 2022 Read More »

September Food and Agriculture Regulatory Recap by Kyla Kaplan

Agriculture & Agribusiness /

OFW’s Food & Agriculture team regularly monitors announcements and policy issuances from FDA, USDA, and other agencies to keep our clients apprised of regulatory developments that may impact their business. Here are a few of the developments from September that we took note of. If you have any questions or would like more information, please

September Food and Agriculture Regulatory Recap by Kyla Kaplan Read More »

OFW Welcomes Kyla Kaplan to FDA and USDA Practice Groups

Agriculture & Agribusiness /

OFW  is pleased to announce that Kyla Kaplan  has joined  the firm as an associate attorney. While Ms. Kaplan will be heavily focused on regulatory matters for our FDA- and USDA-regulated food clients, she will also be working on a variety of agriculture, medical products and government relations issues.   Ms. Kaplan brings to OFW

OFW Welcomes Kyla Kaplan to FDA and USDA Practice Groups Read More »

Commentary: Another court rules against large-scale livestock farms

Agriculture & Agribusiness, USDA /

The United States is home to 21,000 large-scale livestock farms or Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations. According to an appeals court opinion handed down Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco once again ruled for the environmentalists against these farms. The case is no. 20-71554 and was brought by Food

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OFW Law to co-host the 2021 Food Labeling Summit with the Food Institute next month

FDA, Agriculture & Agribusiness, Food Manufacturing, Processing, and Marketing, USDA /

Next month, The Food Institute kicks off its 3-day virtual training seminar on Food Labeling and Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz PC will be co-hosting the event. Each day has its own unique theme. On day one, attendees may expect to first learn the basics of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) and the U.S.

OFW Law to co-host the 2021 Food Labeling Summit with the Food Institute next month Read More »

USDA-FSIS Announces Updated Guidance for Controlling Pathogens in Beef and Poultry Operations

Agriculture & Agribusiness, Food Manufacturing, Processing, and Marketing, USDA /

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has recently updated several of its guidance documents addressing the control of pathogens in beef and poultry operations. These guidelines provide best practices for establishments on managing pathogens during pre-harvest, slaughter, chilling, storage, and processing. FSIS’ guidance is focused on assisting small and very

USDA-FSIS Announces Updated Guidance for Controlling Pathogens in Beef and Poultry Operations Read More »

John Block Reports: Executive Orders

Agriculture & Agribusiness, USDA /

By Former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, John R. Block. Last week President Biden signed a broad Executive Order designed to ensure that we have more competitive markets. We have too many huge corporations. They keep buying up their competitors and just get bigger. Smaller companies compete at a disadvantage. Biden says, “Capitalism without competition isn’t capitalism.

John Block Reports: Executive Orders Read More »

FTC to Issue Final Rule to Combat “Made in USA” Fraud

Food Distribution & International Trade, Agriculture & Agribusiness, FDA, Food Manufacturing, Processing, and Marketing, Government Relations, USDA, USTR /

On July 1st, the Federal Trade Commission voted 3-2 to publish the final Made in USA Labeling Rule in the Federal Register.  The rule is consistent with – and essentially codifies – its prior 1997 Enforcement Policy Statement on U.S. Origin Claims, and provides the agency with enforcement tools to combat fraudulent claims.   The rule

FTC to Issue Final Rule to Combat “Made in USA” Fraud Read More »

USDA to Provide Overtime Fee Relief to Small and Very-Small Establishments

Agriculture & Agribusiness, Food Manufacturing, Processing, and Marketing, USDA /

One of the major complaints of smaller meat and poultry establishments is the cost of USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) overtime and holiday inspection services. Meat and poultry establishments that are subject to mandatory inspection receive FSIS inspection services free of charge for each 8-hour shift the plant normally operates. Many plants only

USDA to Provide Overtime Fee Relief to Small and Very-Small Establishments Read More »

Bob Dole and George McGovern: A Nutrition Legacy that Continues

Agriculture & Agribusiness, Government Relations, Public Policy, USDA /

For many years in the Senate, Senator Bob Dole (R-KS) teamed up with Senator George McGovern (D-SD) to create a legacy of bipartisan leadership on nutrition.  Working together in the 1970s, they completely reformed the Food Stamp Program (now SNAP); established the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations; with Senator Humphrey, created the Women’s Infants

Bob Dole and George McGovern: A Nutrition Legacy that Continues Read More »

chicken breasts being cut

CSPI petitions FSIS to implement enforceable Salmonella controls, supply chain requirements

Agriculture & Agribusiness, Food Manufacturing, Processing, and Marketing, USDA /

John Dillard, a principal attorney in the USDA – FSIS Practice Group, authored the following article on a recent citizen’s petition to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The article appears in The National Provisioner’s March issue. On Jan. 25, 2021, a coalition of food safety activist groups and individuals led by Center

CSPI petitions FSIS to implement enforceable Salmonella controls, supply chain requirements Read More »

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