FDA Withdraws Food Standards Proposed Rule Based on Comments
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is withdrawing the 2005 proposed rule, “Food Standards; General Principles and Food Standards Modernization,” in response to comments received in 2005 after publication of the proposed rule and in 2020 after the FDA reopened the comment period for the proposed rule.
The proposed rule, jointly published with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service, was intended, in part, to establish a set of general principles for the FDA and USDA-FSIS to use when considering whether to establish, revise, or eliminate a food standard.
In public meetings the FDA held in July 2018 and September 2019, stakeholders said that due to changes in manufacturing, food technology, market trends and nutrition science since 2005, the FDA should solicit new data and information when determining next steps for the proposed rule. As a result of that feedback, the FDA reopened the comment period in February 2020, for FDA-specific aspects of the proposed rule.
Many of the comments submitted suggested that the general principles be revised and consolidated to make the principles easier to understand and implement. The FDA and USDA-FSIS agree and are withdrawing the proposed rule to reconsider how best to approach general principles and food standards modernization to ensure any future revised general principles are consistent with the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
A joint FDA and USDA effort to publish a new proposed rule on principles for food standards modernization was included in the Fall Unified Agenda.
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$59M Investment to Strengthen Food Supply Chain, Rural Economies
The Biden-Harris Administration is investing $59 million across the country to increase independent meat and poultry processing capacity, expand market opportunities for farmers and create jobs in rural areas.
The investments support the Biden-Harris Administration’s Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain, which dedicates resources to expand independent processing capacity. As President Biden has highlighted, creating fairer markets and more opportunities for family farmers helps bring down prices at the grocery store.
“For too long, American farmers and ranchers have been asked to produce more to meet increasing demand across the country and around the world, while they and the rural communities they come from have struggled to see their fair share of the benefits,” U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said.
“The Biden-Harris Administration and USDA are taking action to advance a sustainable vision of agriculture that prioritizes the needs of our resilient producers and small businesses, strengthens our food supply chain and brings value back to rural people and places. Through investments like those I’m announcing today, USDA will continue to work tirelessly to give farmers and ranchers a fair chance to compete in the marketplace, which in turn helps lower food costs for the American people.”
Vilsack announced the new investments while touring a processing facility in Harrisonburg, Va., that will be expanded with the funding. Vilsack and Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh visited with local producers and members of the community to discuss the importance of these investments to the region’s economy.
USDA is providing the $59 million in grants to five independent processors under the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program. The funding will help build new processing plants, create hundreds of jobs, give local producers and entrepreneurs more options and business opportunities, and give consumers more options at the grocery store.
In Virginia, Shenandoah Valley Organic LLC is receiving a $3.6 million grant to expand its organic chicken processing facility in Harrisonburg to meet increasing demand. The grant will be used for equipment purchases, new conveyor lines, building and site modifications, and a new wastewater treatment system. The improvements will help the facility alleviate processing bottlenecks and nearly double its processing capacity to 630,000 birds per week. These investments will create 300 jobs and enable Shenandoah Valley to provide more processing options and choices for customers.
In Idaho, Riverbend Meats LLC is receiving a $25 million grant to help build an environmentally friendly beef processing plant in Idaho Falls. The funding also will be used for custom equipment and installation of nine miles of mainline gas pipe. The project is expected to double the plant’s capacity from 300 head per day to 600, increasing the price ranchers receive for their cattle and lowering costs for consumers.
In South Dakota, CNF Enterprises LLC is receiving a $3.3 million grant to help build a 30,000-square-foot processing facility in New Underwood. The facility will have the capacity to process 4,000 head per year, including beef, pork, lamb and buffalo. CNF Enterprises is a new company that was formed to help meet the increasing demand for high-quality, locally sourced meat products.
Through the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act, the Biden-Harris Administration has made once-in-a-generation investments in rural America. These investments have provided USDA with an unprecedented amount of resources to invest in rural communities and transform our food system.
In November, USDA awarded $75 million to 22 projects under MPPEP. In January, USDA awarded an additional $12 million to three more MPPEP projects. The program is one of many actions that USDA is taking to expand processing capacity, create more revenue streams and market opportunities for producers, and transform the nation’s food system.
Additional information on all these programs is available at www.usda.gov/meat.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans, grants and loan guarantees to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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Al Gore Among Speakers at USDA Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate Summit
Former Vice President Al Gore will be an opening keynote speaker at the U.S. Department of Agriculture‘s Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate Summit to be held May 8-10 in Washington D.C. The AIM for Climate Summit will bring together partners to increase and accelerate investment in and support for climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation.
“We are honored to have former Vice President Al Gore join us in Washington this May to kick off the AIM for Climate Summit,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “He has been on the forefront of the climate crisis for more than 40 years and is a leader in the international response to combating climate change. His participation in the Summit underscores the critical role agriculture innovation plays in addressing this global issue.”
Launched at COP26 in 2021, AIM for Climate is an initiative co-led by the United Arab Emirates and the United States that seeks to enable global partnerships and solutions at the intersection of agriculture and climate change. Since its inception, AIM for Climate partners have increased investment to more than $8 billion, launched 30 innovation sprints, and expanded to more than 275 partners worldwide. At COP27 in 2022, Vilsack announced the United States will host the AIM for Climate Summit, with support from the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research.
The Summit is a premier event for AIM for Climate partners designed to serve as a dynamic platform to raise ambition, build collaborations, and share knowledge on innovative solutions in the lead-up to COP28. Vilsack and Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, United Arab Emirates minister of climate change and environment, are confirmed keynote speakers.
Partners are invited to host engaging breakout sessions, present in an interactive exhibit hall, and facilitate tours for participants. The deadline to submit proposals for these activities is Thursday, Feb. 24. For more details on how to apply, visit the AIM for Climate Summit website.
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