The White House has released its “Current Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions” for Spring 2014.
When Food Safety News reported on the Fall 2013 agenda, we told you about the food safety issues in development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. All of the key regulations we highlighted then have pushed passed the schedule set last fall.
The Modernization of Poultry Slaughter Inspection final rule, which had been expected in April, is now scheduled for July.
The June date for the final rule for labeling mechanically tenderized beef products has been pushed to September, along with a proposed rule to require companies to report the distribution and sales information for antimicrobial active ingredients used in food-producing animals.
The proposed rule for updating the nutritional and ingredient information on pet food labels is now expected in October.
Final action on adding nutrition labeling to restaurant menus had been expected in February, but is now planned for June. So is regulation on calorie labeling for food in vending machines.
And a list of pathogens with the potential to pose a serious threat to public health (including Acinetobacter species, Staphylococcus aureus, Campylobacter species, Clostridium difficile and Vibrio cholera) has inched past its expected date in June but is still required to be published by July 9.
Here’s a refresher of what’s planned for the Food Safety Modernization Act:
Rule
RIN / Link
Next Action
Date
Final Rule Deadline
Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls
0910-AG36
Re-proposed Language
August 2014
Aug. 30, 2015
Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Food for Animals
0910-AG10
Re-proposed Language
August 2014
Aug. 30, 2015
Produce Safety Regulation
0910-AG35
Re-proposed Language
August 2014
October 31, 2015
Foreign Supplier Verification Program
0910-AG64
Re-proposed Language
August 2014
October 31, 2015
Accreditation of Third Parties To Conduct Food Safety Audits and For Other Related Purposes
0910-AG66
Final Rule
October 31, 2015
Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food
0910-AG98
End of comment period
May 31, 2014
March 31, 2016
Focused Mitigation Strategies To Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration
0910-AG63
Final Rule
May 31, 2016
FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Amendments to Reportable Food Registry (RFR Requirements)
0910-AG97
ANPRM Comment Period End
June 9, 2014
N/A
The following is a list of other food safety issues addressed in the agenda:
Agency
Agenda Stage of Rulemaking
Title
RIN
Date of Action
HHS/FDA
Proposed Rule Stage
Food Labeling; Revision of the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels
0910-AF22
June 2, 2014
HHS/FDA
Proposed Rule Stage
Food Labeling: Serving Sizes of Foods That Can Reasonably Be Consumed At One-Eating Occasion; Dual-Column Labeling; Updating, Modifying, and Establishing Certain RACCs
0910-AF23
June 2, 2014
HHS/FDA
Proposed Rule Stage
Food Labeling; Gluten-Free Labeling of Fermented, Hydrolyzed, or Distilled Foods
0910-AH00
Sept. 2014
HHS/FDA
Final Rule Stage
Veterinary Feed Directive
0910-AG95
April 2015
HHS/FDA
Proposed Rule Stage
Registration of Food Facilities: Amendments to Food Facility Registration Requirements
0910-AG69
Sept. 2014
USDA/APHIS
Final Rule Stage
Importation of Poultry and Poultry Products From Regions Affected With Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
0579-AC36
Sept. 2014
USDA/FSIS
Proposed Rule Stage
Product Labeling: Use of the Voluntary Claim “Natural” on the Labeling of Meat and Poultry Products
0583-AD30
July 2014
USDA/FSIS
Proposed Rule Stage
Records to be Kept by Official Establishments and Retail Stores That Grind Raw Beef Products
0583-AD46
July 2014
USDA/FSIS
Proposed Rule Stage
Public Information; Communications With Federal Agencies, State and Foreign Government Officials, and International Organizations
0583-AD50
Dec. 2014
USDA/FSIS
Proposed Rule Stage
Addition of Namibia to the List of Countries Eligible to Export Meat Products to the United States
0583-AD51
Dec. 2014
USDA/FSIS
Proposed Rule Stage
Affirmation of Interim Final Rule With Amendments: Control of Listeria Monocytogenes in Ready-to-Eat Meat and Poultry Products
0583-AD53
Aug. 2014
USDA/FSIS
Proposed Rule Stage
Requirements for the Disposition of Non-Ambulatory Disabled Veal Calves
0583-AD54
Aug. 2014
USDA/FSIS
Proposed Rule Stage
Change in Accredited Lab Fees
0583-AD55
Sept. 2014
USDA/FSIS
Final Rule Stage
Mandatory Inspection of Certain Fish, Including Catfish and Catfish Products
0583-AD36
Dec. 2014
USDA/FSIS
Final Rule Stage
Electronic Imported Product Inspection Application and Certification of Imported Product and Foreign Establishments; Amendments to Facilitate the Public Health Information System (PHIS)
0583-AD39
May 2014
USDA/FSIS
Final Rule Stage
Electronic Export Application and Certification as a Reimbursable Service and Flexibility in the Requirements for Official Export Inspection Marks, Devices, and Certificates
0583-AD41
Sept. 2014
USDA/FSIS
Final Rule Stage
Common or Usual Name for Raw Meat and Poultry Products Containing Added Solutions
0583-AD43
July 2014