In This Week’s Edition:
- FSMA Resources, Two FSMA Programs Offer Tools to Assist Stakeholders
- USDA Announces Progress to Further Competition in Agriculture, Level Playing Field for Farmers
- USDA Opens Registration for 2024 Agricultural Outlook Forum
- USDA Launches Initiative to Enhance Competitiveness of the U.S. Specialty Crops Industry
- USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service Equivalence Process Update
- The Emergency Food Assistance Program; Availability of Foods for Fiscal Year 2024
- FSIS Defers to FDA on Petition to Allow Surplus Broiler Eggs to be Processed into Egg Products
- FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Status Update
- FSIS Updates Lists of Foreign Establishments Eligible to Export to U.S.
- FDA Import Alerts
- FDA Warning Letters
FSMA Resources, Two FSMA Programs Offer Tools to Assist Stakeholders
The FSMA programs, the Accredited Third-Party Certification Program (TPP) and the Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods Program (LAAF), are each offering a QR code and a graphic element to communicate the status of participants in TPP and LAAF and to promote awareness of the programs.
The QR code takes users directly to the respective data dashboard for each program. The graphic elements were developed by the FDA for stakeholders to communicate their participation in the program(s). User guidelines that explain how stakeholders may use the QR code and graphic element are available on both the TPP and LAAF Program landing pages.
USDA Provides Updates on GIPSA, Other Competition Efforts
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack provided an update on the USDA efforts to address competition issues in agriculture. USDA has finalized the first in a series of rules under the Packers and Stockyards Act, which is intended to help contract poultry growers compete more effectively and better understand the terms of their agreements with major processing companies.
USDA also announced updates on several other efforts the department has undertaken as part of President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in America’s Economy. These include a notice to seed companies clarifying expectations that they share clear and meaningful information to farmers about the seed varietals they are purchasing; clarifying the domestic origin requirements a farmer must fulfill to sell meat products to meet USDA’s food purchases for nutrition assistance programs; and creating a new, senior- level career position to formalize and enhance implementation of key competition policy priorities across the Department.
USDA Opens Registration for 2024 Agricultural Outlook Forum
The Agricultural Outlook Forum (AOF) is USDA’s largest and premier annual gathering. The breadth and timeliness of the AOF programs have consistently drawn a diverse group of participants, including producers, processors, policymakers, government officials, and non-governmental organizations. It routinely attracts upwards of 1,800 people in person and 4,000-5,000 virtual attendees from the U.S. and around the world.
USDA’s 100th Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum, “Cultivating the Future” will take place on February 15-16, 2024, at the Crystal City Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia. Register here.
USDA Launches Initiative to Enhance Competitiveness of the U.S. Specialty Crops Industry
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Torres Small announced that the USDA is initiating a new effort to further support the U.S. specialty crops sector and increase the competitiveness of its products.As part of this new effort, USDA conducted a departmentwide review of its current services and programs that support the specialty crops industry and compiled the information into a Specialty Crops Resource Directory (PDF, 1.6 MB). The directory, being launched today, is a one-stop shop for the sector and contains a comprehensive snapshot of USDA’s resources and services for specialty crops producers and businesses in one convenient location.
Additionally, over the next several months, USDA leadership will engage directly with the specialty crop industry and producers to gain feedback on how the Department can better address gaps in services and better meet the industry’s needs. Dates and locations of roundtables and other live opportunities for stakeholder feedback are to be announced.
USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service Equivalence Process Update
Equivalence is the process by which the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) determines whether a country’s food safety inspection system achieves an appropriate level of public health protection as applied domestically by FSIS in the United States.
FSIS has updated the “Status Chart for Active Equivalence Requests” view the chart here.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program; Availability of Foods for Fiscal Year 2024
This notice announces the surplus and purchased foods that the Department expects to make available for donation to States for use in providing nutrition assistance to the needy under The Emergency Food Assistance Program in Fiscal Year 2024. The foods made available under this notice must, at the discretion of the State, be distributed to eligible recipient agencies for use in preparing meals and/or for distribution to households for home consumption.
FSIS Defers to FDA on Petition to Allow Surplus Broiler Eggs to be Processed into Egg Products
More information here.
FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Status Update
This week’s updates are:
- An investigation of illnesses (ref #1198) linked to apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches is now being managed by FDA’s Coordinated Outbreak Response & Evaluation (CORE) Network and has been added to the table. These illnesses are due to elevated lead levels in the products, which can be particularly harmful to children. FDA has issued an advisory with advice for consumers, has initiated traceback, sample collection and analysis, and onsite inspections. WanaBana has issued a voluntary recall of all apple cinnamon pouches. Updates will be provided as they become available.
FSIS Updates Lists of Foreign Establishments Eligible to Export to U.S.
FDA Import Alerts
The latest FDA import alerts include foods containing undeclared major allergens or foods that fail to properly label major allergens, imported foods that appear to be misbranded, and more.
FDA Warning Letters
Dieselbycg-Hometown Vape Lounge |
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded |
Toe Toe Inc d/b/a Juana Vape |
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded |
VapeOtine |
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded |
Golden Leaf, LLC d/b/a Golden Leaf Shop |
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded |
Top Notch Smoke Shop LLC |
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded |
Vaporama |
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded |
Vapor Authority, Inc. |
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded |
Online Guru, LLC d/b/a Vapor Puffs |
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded |
The Vape Spot |
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded |
Nic Nac Naturals, LLC |
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act/Adulterated/Misbranded |
Biorica International Corp. |
New Drug/Misbranded |
InnoMark, Inc. |
CGMP/Dietary Supplement/Misbranded |
Neurotris, Inc. dba A1 Engineering |
Medical Device/Adulterated/Misbranded/Lacks PMA and/or 510(k) |
Dexterity Health, LLC DBA Zazzee Naturals |
Finished Pharmaceuticals/Unapproved New Drug |
ADM Animal Nutrition |
CGMP/Animal Food/Adulterated |