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John Block: Tax Reform

By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Tax reform is a hot topic here in the nation’s capital. That doesn’t...

John Block: NAFTA

By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Today, let’s talk about trade and tax reform. President Trump wants to improve...

Patient – Consumer – Industry Coalition Suggests Reducing Government Barriers to Medication Non-Adherence

In an October 2017 White Paper, Prescriptions for a Healthy America (P4HA), a broad-based group that includes representatives of the...

FSMA Update: FDA Releases FSMA Compliance Deadlines Guide

FDA has released a helpful and user friendly Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) compliance date webpage to assist farmers, manufacturers...

FSMA Update: FDA Releases Guidance Documents on CGMP Requirements of Animal Food Rule and Exemptions from FSMA Requirements of Human and Animal Food Rules

On October 19, 2017, FDA announced the publication of two guidance documents to assist industry stakeholders in compliance with regulations...

SNAP Retailers Beware: FNS Wants to Take Away Your SNAP Authorization

Virtually all grocery stores, convenience stores, and supermarkets sell hot foods. Nearly all sell cold prepared foods as well. Most...

John Block Reports: The Opioid Crisis – Stop Pointing Fingers

On October 26, 2017, OFW Law founding principal Richard L. Frank filled in for former USDA Secretary John R. Block...

Jack Block: Dusky Gopher Frog

By former USDA Secretary John R. Block By now, I should not be surprised when the federal government uses its...

Bob Dole and Marshall Matz: Private Sector Distribution System is Missing Link in Food Security

By Senator Bob Dole and Marshall Matz, as published in The Des Moines Register The World Food Prize Foundation, based...

Kristen O’Brien Joins OFW Law as Counsel in the Health Industry Policy and Regulatory Practice

Kristen O’Brien serves as Counsel in OFW Law’s Health Industry Policy and Regulatory Practice, which represents clients in the health...

John Block: Trade Worries

By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Worries about our ag trade are escalating. Farmers are desperate. We export more...

FDA Report on Food Code Adoption

As manufacturers of food products, it is significant to understand the food safety regulations for retailers and the food service...

John Block: Renewable Fuels

By former USDA Secretary John R. Block At this time when farmers are suffering with low prices for corn and...

CPSC: The Price of Hubris

Late last week, the CPSC community received one of its rarest gifts: A judicial opinion in a litigated civil penalty...

FDA Inspector General Report on Progress of FSMA Inspections

On September 28, 2017, the Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (OIG) released its internal report...

Extension of Compliance Date for Revised Nutrition Labeling of Foods and Supplements

While generally expected for months (e.g., since the menu labeling compliance date extension) and recently the subject of a “tweet”...

John Block: Priorities

By former USDA Secretary John R. Block The TV has been dominated by hurricanes. The Texas coast was devastated and...

Open Date Labeling Revisions for Food Appear To Be on the Horizon

Over 30 years ago, the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM) collaborated with the Association of Food and Drug...

John Block: Duarte vs. Big Government

By former USDA Secretary John R. Block You may have heard about the John Duarte wetlands case. John Duarte, a...

Nutrition Facts Update: Compliance Date Expected to be Delayed 18 Months

Last Thursday, at the Politico Policy Summit, Commissioner Scott Gottlieb announced that the new Nutrition Facts requirements compliance date will...

To Fix FEMA’s National Flood Insurance, Take a Page From USDA’s Federal Crop Insurance (Part 1 of a 2 Part Series)

It will take months to calculate the damage Hurricanes Harvey and Irma unleashed on Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and other states...

Texas and Florida Farmers: Time to Face Crop Loss

It will take months to calculate the damage Hurricanes Harvey and Irma unleashed this summer on the states of Texas,...

John Block: The To Do List

By former USDA Secretary John R. Block September is here. Labor Day is behind us. The To Do list in...

Will the Trump Administration Align Compliance Dates for Nutrition Facts Update, GMO Labeling?

Several food industry groups hope so. The responsibility for implementing two major changes to food labeling requirements has fallen on...