The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration are sponsoring a public meeting on April 25, 2011 to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the 39th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labeling (CCFL) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which will be held in Québec City, Canada May 9-13, 2011.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is scheduled to vote on April 6, 2011 on a proposed rule to establish a mandatory safety standard for portable bed rails. According to the draft notice, the proposed standard would be substantially the same as the voluntary standard ASTM F 2085-10a, “Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Portable Bed Rails,” but with some modifications to strengthen it. A live webcast of the meeting can be viewed here.
On March 31, 2011, the Food and Drug Administration has posted revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is urging consumers to stop participating in a new type of water-related recreational activity called water walking, due to the potential risk of suffocation and drowning associated with water walking balls. The fact that the product has no emergency exit and can be opened only by a person outside of the ball significantly heightens the risk of injury or death when a person inside the ball experiences distress. CPSC does not know of any safe way to use this product.
On March 30, 2011, the Food and Drug Administration has posted revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:
On March 29, 2011, the Food and Drug Administration issued an update to its question and answer document on what it is doing to ensure the safety of food products imported from Japan. FDA has shortened and slightly modified its response on what FDA will do if grass or feed crop in the U.S. does become contaminated. The Q&A continues to state that all milk and milk products and vegetables and fruits produced or manufactured from the four Japanese prefectures of Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi and Gunma will be detained upon entry into the U.S. They will not be allowed to enter the U.S. food supply, unless shown to be free from radionuclide contamination, with the exception of specific products restricted by Japan - these will be refused admission into the U.S. (See ITT's Online Archives or 03/28/11, 03/22/11 and 03/24/11 news, 11032813, 11032225, and 11032438, for previous BP summaries of the Q&A and FDA's import alert on the topic.)
The Food and Drug Administration has announced the approval of Uniferon (injectable iron), for the prevention and treatment of iron deficiency anemia in baby pigs. In recent years there has been an inconsistent supply of injectable iron dextran products in the U.S. resulting in shortages. FDA’s announcement of the approval of Uniferon should provide an adequate U.S. domestically manufactured supply and therefore effectively end any current shortages.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on March 30, 2011, the termination of the All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Action Plan for SunL Group, Inc., of Irving, Texas. Effective immediately, it is unlawful for any importer or distributor to import or distribute into commerce any ATV subject to the SunL Group ATV Action Plan. SunL Recently, CPSC staff learned that SunL Group was no longer in operation and could not fulfill the terms of its ATV Action Plan.
On March 29, 2011, the Food and Drug Administration has posted revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:
On March 28, 2011, the Food and Drug Administration has posted revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of: