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Tonight: Global Child Nutrition Foundation Honors USDA Secretary Vilsack

Public Policy, USDA /

Please join the Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF) and its partners in honoring Secretary Vilsack for his remarkable achievements in child nutrition. GCNF’s Annual Gala has become a signature Washington event, bringing together executives from industry as well as high-level officials from both government and NGO’s.  It will take place tonight, from 5:30-7:30 PM, at the […]

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2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Report Mixes Science and Policy

FDA, Health Care, Public Policy, USDA /

The 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) submitted its report to the Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services last month and disbanded.  It is now up to the USDA and HHS to take the DGAC’s conclusions and recommendations and issue a revised edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.  Interested persons may submit

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The Vilsapp: Secretary Vilsack’s High Tech Solution to Labeling

FDA, Public Policy, USDA /

By Marshall L. Matz, as published in Agri-Pulse The March edition of the National Geographic Magazine, in its cover story entitled “The War on Science,” notes that “there’s no evidence that GMO’s are harmful to human health.” A recent Pew poll found that 90% of all scientists believe GMO’s are safe but only 37% of the public

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Dietary Guidelines – Confused About Caffeine

Health Care, Public Policy, USDA /

The news wires have been buzzing lately about the recently released scientific report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. One of the hottest topics for discussion is how out of step the report is on a number of issues, including the Committee’s dive into political matters like sustainability, soda taxes, and “added sugar” labeling. These

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No Horsing Around – Nevada Federal Judge Dismisses Burro Suit Against Interior Dept.

EPA, Public Policy, USDA /

The serious environmental problems caused by unchecked wild horse populations on western rangelands are well known to state and local governments, Native American tribes, ranchers and farmers.  Efforts, however, to prompt the U.S. Department of Interior (“Interior Dept.”) and its Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) to address widespread environmental damage and other impacts caused by

No Horsing Around – Nevada Federal Judge Dismisses Burro Suit Against Interior Dept. Read More »

So Which USDA Regulations Would You Like to Change?

Public Policy, USDA /

We know that people often disagree with any number of the different regulations that have been put in place for the administration of USDA’s programs – agricultural program operations, nutrition programs, rural development programs, energy programs, conservation programs, and the list goes on. Well, now is the chance to speak up. In the Federal Register

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Trade is Critical to Rural America; Agriculture is Key to TPA

Public Policy, USDA /

Trade policy may present an opportunity for the Obama Administration and the Congress to work together in a bipartisan manner but it is sure not unanimous.   While Agriculture Secretary Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative’s Chief Agriculture Negotiator Darci Vetter are making the case for Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), Senator Ron Wyden, the Senior Democrat on

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The Drones are Coming! FAA Releases Proposed Rule on Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems

OFW Law News, Public Policy, USDA /

Mention the word “drone” and most people think of our nation’s military activities in the Middle East. However, over the last few years, unmanned aircraft is finding its way into new civilian applications. Small drones, which are also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS), when equipped with sophisticated cameras, can

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Statement by Senator Bob Dole on Nutrition Report

Health Care, Public Policy, USDA /

Contact: Marshall Matz (202) 789-1212; [email protected] or Marion Watkins (202) 654-4863; [email protected] “As co-author with Senator George McGovern of the original 1977 ‘Dietary Goals for the United States’ report, I commend the USDA, HHS and its Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee for continuing to focus attention on human nutrition.  The Committee’s recently-released report notes the staggering numbers of

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FSIS Poised to Take Action in Response to Increase of Recalls Due to Undeclared Allergens and the Failure to Present Imported Products for Re-inspection

USDA /

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) recently posted on its website a Summary of Recall Cases in Calendar Year 2014.  Comparing this summary with the summaries from 2013 and 2012, a few things immediately stand out.  On a positive side, meat and poultry product recalls for pathogens (Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and

FSIS Poised to Take Action in Response to Increase of Recalls Due to Undeclared Allergens and the Failure to Present Imported Products for Re-inspection Read More »

Global Child Nutrition Foundation to Honor Secretary Vilsack on April 16th

Public Policy, USDA /

The Global Child Nutrition Foundation is proud to announce Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack as the recipient of the 2015 Gene White Lifetime Achievement Award for Child Nutrition. Please join the Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF) and its partners in honoring Secretary Vilsack for his remarkable achievements in child nutrition at GCNF’s Annual Gala Reception. Now

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Dr. Nina Fedoroff Joins OFW Law as Senior Science Advisor

FDA, OFW Law News, Public Policy, USDA /

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Nina Fedoroff, a renowned plant molecular biologist, has joined OFW Law as Senior Science Advisor focusing on agriculture policy, global food security and government affairs.  The former Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State, Dr. Fedoroff has long been involved in regulatory issues surrounding genetic modification of organisms (GMOs)

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Gas Tax

Public Policy, USDA /

How many of you out there think that we would be well-advised to spend some money repairing our roads and bridges? What about our locks and dams and seaports that carry our grain to countries around the world? Are you aware that our Federal Highways Trust Fund will be running out of money this spring?

Gas Tax Read More »

114th Congress – What to Expect in Ag and Food

EPA, FDA, Public Policy, USDA /

As the 114th Congress begins in earnest, there is rough sledding ahead this winter over the gulf between the governing philosophies of the President and the new Congress. Not to belabor the obvious, but early indications are that Republican victories have altered the President’s willingness to deal only very modestly, if at all.  With just

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2014 And 2015

FDA, Public Policy, USDA /

As we say goodbye to 2014 and welcome 2015, it’s time for a little backward and forward looking. Here’s what we saw in the 2014 rear view mirror in our little corner of the Universe devoted to the regulatory aspects of foods, drugs, medical devices, agriculture, and the like. In January, the Food and Drug

2014 And 2015 Read More »

Don’t Rush the Holiday Preparations – Make Certain the Meat is Properly Cooked

Miscellaneous, USDA /

Getting ready for holiday “get togethers”, one often finds themselves in a rush or behind on preparing the food for the party.  Don’t let tardiness be the reason the party attendees end up with a case of foodborne illness.  Don’t rush cooking of product; I am certain the guests would rather wait a few minutes

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Congress Approves Agriculture, FDA Funding as Part of Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2015

FDA, Public Policy, USDA /

Congress has completed action on the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2015 (the Act), which funds eleven of the twelve regular Appropriation bills through September 30, 2015, the balance of fiscal 2015.  Funding for the Homeland Security bill is provided under a Continuing Resolution through February 27.  The House approved the Act on Thursday, December 11,

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Free Webinar on Big Data and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

EPA, Public Policy, USDA /

OFW Law’s John Dillard will be kicking off this year’s Ohio Food, Agriculture and Environmental Law Webinar Series with a discussion on two cutting-edge topics affecting agriculture: agricultural drones and “big data.” Mr. Dillard’s webinar will provide a brief primer on the current and potential applications for drone technology in agriculture. He will also discuss

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Stewart Fried headshot

Celebrating 35 Years of Success: USDA Practice Team

OFW Law News, Public Policy, USDA /

Recently, Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz, P.C., otherwise known as “OFW Law,” celebrated 35 years of business with colleagues, family, friends and clients.  We were extremely proud to share this milestone with those who have helped make OFW Law one of the leading firms practicing USDA and FDA law today. Although OFW Law has expanded

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Feed the Future: A Bipartisan Opportunity

Public Policy, USDA /

By Marshall L. Matz, as published in Agri-Pulse The “Feed the Future” initiative is aimed at improving agriculture productivity and economic development around the world. Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the both the House and Senate to make this discretionary program permanent. The legislation (H.R. 5656; S.2909) has the support of private sector corporations as well

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John Block Reports: Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015 Edition – Losing It’s Way on Sugars (Part II)

FDA, Public Policy, USDA /

OFW Law founding principal Richard L. Frank fills in for former USDA Secretary John R. Block. There are a variety of disturbing questions surrounding the Dietary Guidelines for Americans now being drafted for release in 2015. The questions relate to whether the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee should focus its review and recommendations on the current science on nutrition

John Block Reports: Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015 Edition – Losing It’s Way on Sugars (Part II) Read More »

David Durkin headshot

Climate Smart, Sustainable Agriculture

Public Policy, USDA /

By Marshall L. Matz and Peter B. Matz, as published in Agri-Pulse On September 29, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General José Graziano da Silva issued a call for climate smart agriculture and a “paradigm shift towards sustainable agriculture and family farming.”  It is a theme we have seen in a number of recent reports by leading organizations, including:

Climate Smart, Sustainable Agriculture Read More »

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