The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is moving to define "natural" on food labels, and announced rules adding to antimicrobial sales reporting. Three U.S. dairy organizations urged the White House to challenge a World Health Organization proposal that would discourage the consumption of dairy products by young children. This and other U.S. dairy policy news can be found here.
What’s ‘natural’? The International Dairy Foods Association has some advice
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) encouraged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (PDF, 339KB) to establish a regulatory definition for the term “natural.” However, IDFA said it strongly supports FDA recognizing and maintaining the longstanding use of the term “natural cheese,” which should be exempt from “natural” claim criteria.
IDFA also encouraged FDA to not incorporate a standard for agricultural practices, including genetic engineering, in any definition of “natural.” Instead, the “natural” criteria should only apply to post-harvest practices.
Currently, FDA considers the term “natural” to mean nothing artificial or synthetic, including colors, has been added to a food that would not normally be expected to be in that food. In its call for comments, FDA asked whether and how it should define the term “natural,” what the appropriate use of “natural” on food labels would be and whether agriculture production practices should be considered in the criteria.
Antimicrobial reporting requirements increased
The FDA finalized a rule revising annual reporting requirements for companies supplying antimicrobials for use in food-producing animals. Discussions are also underway that could take reporting requirements all the way to the farm.
Companies are now required to provide estimates of sales broken down by major food-producing species (cattle, swine, chickens and turkeys) in addition to the overall estimates they already submit on the amount of antimicrobial drugs they sell or distribute for use in food-producing animals. As it is now interpreted, the rule does not split reporting requirements for beef and dairy cattle.
The rule is effective July 11, and requires enhanced reporting on all 2016 sales.
The Animal Health Institute (AHI), representing companies producing animal and livestock medicines, expressed disappointment in the final rule. It said a secure and confidential program like the USDA National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) is a more appropriate system for collecting this type of information.
Read the full Progressive Publishing article.
USDA announces $2.4 million to relieve veterinary shortages
The USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will provide $2.4 million to relieve veterinarian shortage situations through education, extension and training, as well as support for veterinary practices in designated shortage areas.
Grants will also be made to establish or expand veterinary practices in rural areas. Applications are due June 17.
Organic manure review requested
The National Organic Program (NOP) has issued a memo to the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), requesting review of certain animal manure products as fertilizers in organic crop production.
The NOP previously published guidance on using processed manure (heated and dried manure) that meets microbial reduction standards without an intervening period between application and harvest. In light of recent inquiries from fertilizer manufacturers, the NOP is asking the NOSB to review manure products that do not fit within the previous guidance, including heat-treated liquid manure products and anaerobic digestate products made with manure feedstock.
Dairy continues to challenge World Health Organization child marketing proposal
Three U.S. dairy organizations urged the White House to challenge a World Health Organization (WHO) proposal (PDF, 173KB) that would discourage the consumption of dairy products by young children.
The National Milk Producers Federation, International Dairy Foods Association and U.S. Dairy Export Council sent a letter to the Obama administration, urging the U.S. government to seek further scientific review and changes to WHO guidance regarding marketing of dairy products. Dairy organizations have made repeated requests to fix what they say are significant problems with the proposal.
Earlier this year, the WHO released the draft guidance document that would dictate sweeping new restrictions directly discouraging consumption of milk, as well as other new limits on various foods including dairy products, by children up to age 3. Although the intent of the document is presumably to encourage healthy eating patterns for toddlers, the WHO proposal as now drafted would actually have the opposite effect, the organizations said.
Energy, water funding bill approved in Senate
The U.S. Senate approved a fiscal year 2017 energy-water appropriations bill on a 90-8 vote, according to the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA). The $37.5 billion bill covers operations and maintenance of inland waterways, including locks and dams, used to move crops and inputs.
The House has not yet passed its energy and water appropriations bill, but it is expected to be one of the first to reach the floor for a vote once full debate can begin on individual appropriations bills.
The House version of the bill contains similar funding levels. It also has language prohibiting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from using funds to implement the “Waters of the United States” rule. PD
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