The Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 came one step closer to being enacted after the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed it by unanimous voice vote June 17.
H.R. 2749 would give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authority to inspect high-risk food facilities at least once a year and require companies to keep detailed records to help the FDA more quickly trace tainted foods.
Although the bill was amended, the American Meat Institute presented new concerns over the bill because of the effect it would have on FDA-regulated products that are used as ingredients in some meat and poultry in addition to setting inspection precedents for the meat and poultry industries.
The bill is set to move to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Showing posts with label Poultry Community. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Poultry Community. Show all posts
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Enforcement-oriented OSHA back with appetite for fines
“OSHA is back! The best advice I can give you is get ready,” Larry Stine of Wimberly & Lawson told listeners at the National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry in Hilton Head Island, S.C.Stine said the Occupational Health & Safety Administration, with Jordan Barab appointed as acting OSHA chief, is back with a renewed mandate for aggressive enforcement.
OSHA has a big budget and an even bigger appetite not only for fines, but also for stiff monetary penalties that far exceed their their non-punitive stance, Stine said.“Remember those ergonomics standards that the Clinton administration published on their way out the door, and that the the Bush Administration canceled during its first weeks in office?
Get ready, they’re coming back. As a matter of fact, that’s the best advice I can give you: Get ready!"Among other advice, Stine said companies should plan ahead and be prepared for OSHA visits. He also advised companies to correct conditions before inspectors enter the premises.
OSHA has a big budget and an even bigger appetite not only for fines, but also for stiff monetary penalties that far exceed their their non-punitive stance, Stine said.“Remember those ergonomics standards that the Clinton administration published on their way out the door, and that the the Bush Administration canceled during its first weeks in office?
Get ready, they’re coming back. As a matter of fact, that’s the best advice I can give you: Get ready!"Among other advice, Stine said companies should plan ahead and be prepared for OSHA visits. He also advised companies to correct conditions before inspectors enter the premises.
Friday, April 10, 2009
EPA's CAFO regulation changes challenged
The National Chicken Council and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association have filed suit in the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans challenging certain aspects of the Environmental Protection Agency’s new regulation on water pollution discharges from confined animal feeding operations.
The new regulation was issued in response to the industry’s victory in the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York in 2005, in which the court said EPA could not require growers to apply for permits merely because they have a “potential to discharge” pollutants to the waters of the U.S., the release explained.
EPA replaced that portion of the rule with a new provision that would require permits where there is a "proposal to discharge." The lawsuit will challenge the new requirement as not conforming to the Second Circuit’s ruling.
The lawsuit also challenges recent guidance documents, issued by EPA in the form of letters, that interpret the CAFO regulation. According to the release, the letters say a grower has a "proposal to discharge," and therefore must apply for a permit, if poultry housing has a ventilation fan that may potentially exhaust dust or other substances on the ground where rain water might wash them into a ditch leading to surface waters.
NCC and USPOULTRY will argue Congress did not intend to regulate these normal agricultural practices when it enacted the Clean Water Act.
The new regulation was issued in response to the industry’s victory in the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York in 2005, in which the court said EPA could not require growers to apply for permits merely because they have a “potential to discharge” pollutants to the waters of the U.S., the release explained.
EPA replaced that portion of the rule with a new provision that would require permits where there is a "proposal to discharge." The lawsuit will challenge the new requirement as not conforming to the Second Circuit’s ruling.
The lawsuit also challenges recent guidance documents, issued by EPA in the form of letters, that interpret the CAFO regulation. According to the release, the letters say a grower has a "proposal to discharge," and therefore must apply for a permit, if poultry housing has a ventilation fan that may potentially exhaust dust or other substances on the ground where rain water might wash them into a ditch leading to surface waters.
NCC and USPOULTRY will argue Congress did not intend to regulate these normal agricultural practices when it enacted the Clean Water Act.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Online community launched for poultry industry
WATT has announced the beta launch of AnimalAgNet.com, an online social networking community for animal agriculture. The site is created for producers, processors and marketers and others working in any phase of animal agriculture, including poultry.
“AnimalAgNet is designed as a place for animal agribusiness professionals to network and share knowledge in a safe, business-only environment,” said WATT Vice President of Content Bruce Plantz.
Members of the animal agriculture community are encouraged to visit AnimalAgNet.com and join a community of their interest, make a comment, or post photos and videos. Groups exist for poultry production, regulatory issues, animal health, feed trends, environmental issues and pig production.
Community members are invited to start their own blog, or form their own groups.
“AnimalAgNet is designed as a place for animal agribusiness professionals to network and share knowledge in a safe, business-only environment,” said WATT Vice President of Content Bruce Plantz.
Members of the animal agriculture community are encouraged to visit AnimalAgNet.com and join a community of their interest, make a comment, or post photos and videos. Groups exist for poultry production, regulatory issues, animal health, feed trends, environmental issues and pig production.
Community members are invited to start their own blog, or form their own groups.
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