Bill Aims To Protect U.S. Food Supply From Terrorism

Sens. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) have introduced legislation that sets out a national strategy to prepare for, detect, respond to and recover from an agro-terror attack or catastrophic food emergency. - Posted 7/30/07 by AHB

Johanns Says House Version Of COOL Is "Workable"

A proposal for country-of-origin labeling set to be added to the House version of the 2007 farm bill is more "workable" than the original law, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns told Dow Jones . - Posted 7/30/07 by AHB

Congressmen Introduce Bill To Label Carbon Monoxide Packaging

Legislators have introduced a bill that would mandate labeling meat packaged in color-enhancing carbon monoxide gas. - Posted 7/25/07 by AHB

Illinois Horse Slaughterhouse Back In Business — At Least For Now

After being forced to close twice in the last two months, the last U.S. horse slaughter plant will be allowed to reopen while it challenges the state law that shuttered it, a federal appeals court ruled earlier this week. - Posted 7/20/07 by AHB

House Ag Panel Approves COOL

The House Agriculture Committee voted to require country-of-origin labels on meat product beginning next year, finally allowing full implementation of the rule provided in the 2002 Farm Bill. - Posted 7/20/07 by AHB

FDA Still Pondering…And Pondering Expanded BSE Feed Ban

It's been more than a year since FDA issued a proposal for an enhanced feed ban it says would reduce the risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy by 90 percent, but the beef industry is still awaiting publication of a final rule. - Posted 7/17/07 by AHB

New Animal Feed Regulations Come Into Force

Canadian government tightens up the regulations covering animal feed. - Posted 7/16/07 by AHB

Americans Are COOL With Labels For Imported Meat And Poultry: Report

A Consumer Reports poll indicates that 92 percent of Americans want to know where their meat originates in light of recent domestic food scares involving peanut butter and lettuce. - Posted 7/12/07 by AHB

FSIS Publishes Final Rule Prohibiting Processing of "Downer" Cattle

FSIS has announced a permanent prohibition on the slaughter of cattle that are unable to stand or walk ("downer" cattle) when presented for pre-slaughter inspection. - Posted 7/12/07 by AHB

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Minimum Wage Poster

Every employer of employees subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum wage provisions must post, and keep posted, a notice explaining the Act in a conspicuous place in all of their establishments so as to permit employees to readily read it.  As of July 24, 2007, the Federal minimum wage will increase to $5.85 per hour. - Posted 7/10/07 by AHB

Feds Relieve New Mexico Of Meat-Inspection Duties

USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service will take over meat inspections in New Mexico after finding that the state's services weren't up to snuff. - Posted 7/10/07 by AHB

FSIS Announces July Regulatory Education Sessions for Small and Very Small Plants

The sessions will include a walk-through of a variety of topics, which may include HACCP, Sanitation performance Standards, Sanitation SOPs, Rules of Practice and Food Defense requirements. - Posted 7/2/07 by AHB

Ohio Representative Introduces Interstate Shipment Legislation

U.S. Representative Space has introduced H.R. 2876, which would allow interstate sales of state-inspected meat and poultry.  H.R. 2876 would require USDA to verify that state inspection programs are "equal to" the federal inspection program, and those states meeting this requirement would be eligible to ship state-inspected meat and poultry products across state lines.  - Posted 7/2/07 by AHB