The Agricultural Marketing Service on Dec. 27 issued a final rule amending the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances in organic products. The final rule changes use restrictions for 17 substances allowed for organic production or handling: micronutrients; chlorhexidine; parasiticides; fenbendazole; moxidectin; xylazine; lidocaine; procaine; methionine; excipients; alginic acid; flavors; carnauba wax; chlorine; cellulose; colors; and glycerin. It also allows the use of 16 new substances: hypochlorous acid; magnesium oxide; squid byproducts; activated charcoal; calcium borogluconate; calcium propionate; injectable vitamins, minerals and electrolytes; kaolin pectin; mineral oil; propylene glycol; acidified sodium chlorite; zinc sulfate; potassium lactate; and sodium lactate. The final rule also lists a botanical pesticide, rotenone, as a prohibited substance in organic crop production, and removes ivermectin as an allowed parasiticide for use in organic livestock production. The changes take effect Jan. 28, 2019.
The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation on Dec. 20 announced that Special Import Quota #9 for upland cotton will be established on Dec. 27, allowing importation of 12,334,220 kilograms (56,650 bales) of upland cotton, the same as for the previous quota period. Special Import Quota #8 was established on Dec. 20, and applied to upland cotton purchased not later than March 19, 2019, and entered into the U.S. by June 17, 2019. Quota #9 will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than March 26, 2019, and entered into the U.S. by June 24, 2019. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the period July 2018 through September 2018, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the 2019 rates it will charge meat and poultry establishments, egg products plants, and importers and exporters for providing voluntary, overtime and holiday inspection and identification, certification and laboratory services. Effective Jan. 20, the agency's 2019 rate schedule is as follows:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is finalizing changes to its regulations on branding requirements for bovines imported into the U.S. from Mexico, it said. The final rule simplifies and enlarges required brands on imported bovines. “These changes will help prevent inconsistencies in branding that can result in bovines being rejected for import into the United States,” APHIS said. The new provisions take effect Jan. 14.
The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation on Dec. 6 announced that Special Import Quota #7 for upland cotton will be established on Dec. 13, allowing importation of 12,334,220 kilograms (56,650 bales) of upland cotton, the same as for the previous quota period. It will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than March 12, 2019, and entered into the U.S. by June 10, 2019. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the period July 2018 through September 2018, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service set Jan. 1, 2022, as the uniform compliance date for any new meat and poultry product labeling regulations issued between Jan. 1, 2019, and Dec. 31, 2020, in a final rule. FSIS periodically announces uniform compliance dates for new meat and poultry product labeling regulations to minimize the economic impact of label changes.
The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation on Nov. 29 announced that Special Import Quota #6 for upland cotton will be established on Dec. 6, allowing importation of 12,334,220 kilograms (56,650 bales) of upland cotton, the same as for the previous quota period. It will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than March 5, 2019, and entered into the U.S. by June 3, 2019. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the period July 2018 through September 2018, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation on Nov. 23 announced that Special Import Quota #5 for upland cotton will be established on Nov. 29, allowing importation of 12,334,220 kilograms (56,650 bales) of upland cotton, the same as the previous quota period. It will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than Feb. 26, 2019, and entered into the U.S. by May 27, 2019. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the period July 2018 through September 2018, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation on Nov. 15 announced that Special Import Quota #4 for upland cotton will be established on Nov. 22, allowing importation of 12,334,220 kilograms (56,650 bales) of upland cotton, down from 12,807,185 kilograms (58,822 bales) for the previous quota period (see 1811090013). It will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than Feb. 19, 2019, and entered into the U.S. by May 20, 2019. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the period July 2018 through September 2018, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation on Nov. 8 announced that Special Import Quota #3 for upland cotton will be established on Nov. 15, allowing importation of 12,807,185 kilograms (58,822 bales) of upland cotton, the same as for the previous quota period. It will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than Feb. 12, 2019, and entered into the U.S. by May 13, 2019. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the period June 2018 through August 2018, the most recent three months for which data is available.