Food Industry Regulatory Update April 2, 2021

In this Week’s Edition:

FDA Postpones DUNS Number Requirement for Food Facility Registration
Update on “Real Water” Hepatitis Outbreak
USDA Names Oscar Gonzalez as Assistant Secretary for Administration
USDA Releases Semi-Annual Regulatory Agenda
AMS Seeking Nominations for National Organic Standards Board
USDA Extends Emergency SNAP Benefits
FDA Color Additive Certification Report
FSIS Updates List of Foreign Establishments Eligible to Export to U.S.
FDA Import Alerts
FDA Warning Letters

FDA Postpones DUNS Number Requirement for Food Facility Registration

Food facilities will not be required to provide a DUNS number to register in 2021-2022 food facility Bioterrorism Act registration cycle. Details here.

Update on “Real Water” Hepatitis Outbreak

Real Water has initiated a recall of all sizes of its “Real Water” brand water. The latest information is available here.

USDA Names Oscar Gonzalez as Assistant Secretary for Administration

More information is here.

USDA Publishes Semi-Annual Regulatory Agenda

The agenda includes the SNAP retail fraud rule, strengthening organic enforcement, importation and transportation of GMOs and more.

AMS Seeking Nominations for National Organic Standards Board

USDA is seeking:

One individual who owns or operates an organic farming operation or an employee of such individual.
One individual with expertise in areas of environmental protection and resource conservation.
One individual who represents public interest or consumer interest groups.
One individual with expertise in the fields of toxicology, ecology, or biochemistry.
Details here.

USDA Extends Emergency SNAP Benefits

Starting this month, households that had not received at least $95 per month in increased benefits through emergency allotments during the pandemic – because they were already at or close to receiving the current maximum benefit – will now be eligible to receive additional benefits. Benefit levels will remain unchanged for households that have been receiving increased payments of at least $95 per month. States may need a few weeks to update their systems and get the additional benefits to participants. More information here.