USDA — The latest news about safe, sustainable and bio-based materials and products

FSIS has issued its policy for cultured meat and poultry

The US Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) has announced details of their sampling program for cell-cultured meat and poultry products.

Cultured Meat, RegulationFiona CaseJuly 17, 2023Cultured Meat, USDA

USDA responsibilities in establishments producing cultured meat

A new USDA directive establishes inspection requirements for companies producing cultured meat which will be jointly overseen by the FDA and FSIS. Products will be subject to the same FSIS regulatory requirements and oversight authority as meat and poultry products derived from animal slaughter, but labels applied to these foods are not eligible for generic approval.

Cultured Meat, RegulationFiona CaseJune 25, 2023Cultured Meat, Regulations, FDA, USDA

USDA Proposes to Oversee Regulatory Jurisdiction of Some Genetically Engineered Animals

A USDA advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) is seeking public comment on amending and clarifying regulatory jurisdiction over genetically engineered agricultural animals.

Leadership, Policy, RegulationJames EdeFebruary 2, 2021USDA, Genetically Engineered Animals, ANPRM, genetically engineered agricultural animals, FDA, genomic alterations, Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic ActComment

Cellular Agriculture - Cultured cell products for human and animal food - An overview of FDA and USDA regulatory oversight

In a joint webinar released on July 24th, 2020, representatives from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Department of Agriculture (USDA) presented the current framework for “Regulatory Oversight of Cultured Animal Cell Human and Animal Food Products”.

Cultured Meat, Regulation, Food InnovationJames EdeAugust 20, 2020Cellular Agriculture, Cultured cell products, FDA, USDA, Regulatory Oversight of Cultured Animal Cell Human and Animal Food Products, Cultured animal cell products, slaughter-free, cell-based meat, food production, cell-based technologies, FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), FDA CFSAN and USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)Comment

USDA Releases New Guide for Animal Genomics

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced a new guide for research and funding in animal genomics for 2018-2027.

Sustainability, RegulationJames EdeJuly 10, 2019USDA, USDA Releases New Guide for Animal Genomics, "Genome to Phenome: Improving Animal Health, Production and Well-Being", Agricultural Research Service (ARS), National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Iowa State UniversityComment

USDA to Release Final Ruling on Biotech Ingredients

Following a two-year comment period, USDA has released a final ruling on labeling requirements for bioengineered foods.

Policy, RegulationJames EdeJanuary 30, 2019biotech, USDA, labeling requirements for bioengineered foods, Vireo Advisors, human health or environmental benefits, in vitro recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) techniquesComment

The USDA released Its Proposed National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard

The proposed new rule would require food manufacturers and other entities that label foods for retail sale to disclose if the product contains bioengineered food, or food ingredients.

Regulation, PolicyJames EdeJune 14, 2018USDA, proposed National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard for public comment, bioengineered food or food ingredients, Vireo Advisors, label foods for retail saleComment

Inhalation of Cellulose Nanomaterials: Vireo Advisors Safety Spotlight 

In this post, we update our knowledge on inhalation of cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) and cellulose nano/micro fibril (CNF/CMF) dusts and discuss best practices for working safely with them.

Commercialization, Environment, Guidance, Nanomaterials, Nanotechnology, Risk AnalysisJames EdeJune 2, 20172016 TAPPI Conferebce on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials, Inhalation of Cellulose Nanomaterials: Vireo Advisors Safety Spotlight, Vireo, P3 Nano, nanocrystal (CNC) and cellulose nano/micro fibril (CNF/CMF) dusts, CN hazards, worker safety, occupational exposure, Commercialization, roadmap, roadmap of the health and environmental safety of CNs, poorly soluble low toxicity (PSLT) dusts, respiratory protection, occupational exposure limit, Experimental setup, Particle and Fibre Toxicology, NIOSH, Nanotechnology, Efforts by P3Nano on the Safe and Responsible Commercialization of CNs, Günter Oberdörster, Professor Emeritus of the University of Rochester, USDA, US Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Memorandum of Understanding, Safety Data Sheets for CNC/CNF, Kimberly Ong, Jo Anne Shatkin, James EdeComment

Preparing for Future Products of Biotechnology

TheNational Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NAS) were asked to form a committee in response to the order from the Executive Office of President in July 2015, in which the EPA, FDA, and USDA were charged with the responsibility of analyzing "the future of biotechnologies in regards to potential new risks and frameworks for risk assessment and areas in which risks or lack of risks relating to the products of biotechnology are well understood."

Guidance, Leadership, Regulation, PolicyJames EdeApril 5, 2017Preparing for Future Products of Biotechnology, Vireo Advisors, EPA, FDA, USDA, National Academies of Science Engineering and Medicine (NAS), Executive Office of President in July 2015Comment

The National Strategy for Modernizing the Regulatory System for Biotechnology Products

The National Strategy for Modernizing the Regulatory System for Biotechnology Products (Strategy), was published in September of 2016 along with the 2017 Update to the Coordinated Framework (see our previous post).

Policy, RegulationJames EdeFebruary 10, 20172017 Update to the Coordinated Framework, EPA, FDA, USDA, Federal regulatory systemComment