WEEK OF MARCH 15, 2024 OFW’s Cannabis Team regularly monitors cannabis news, legislation, regulation, and policy so our clients stay up-to-date on the latest developments impacting their business. If you have any questions or would like more information about any of the items below, please contact us. We also track cannabis-related legislation introduced in the […]
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What is Cannabis?
As OFW Law’s Cannabis Team launches our new blog, CannaSweep, the team thought it would be helpful to explain what all is “swept” under the cannabis umbrella. For our first post, we describe what “cannabis” is and how it has found its way into agriculture, foods, cosmetics, drugs, and other commercial applications. It’s all Cannabis
International Travelers Beware: CBP Seized More Than $7 million from Travelers Across the U.S. in October 2023
Did you know that if you travel to the U.S. carrying large amounts of money, you are required to report that money to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)? Failure to report can lead to the seizure of your money by CBP, with no guarantee that it will be returned to you. The penalties for
Decoding CBP’s Modernized Customs Broker Regulations – What You Need to Know
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued the final rule modernizing the customs broker regulations 19 CFR 111 with an effective date of December 19, 2022. Key changes include transitioning to a national permit framework, requiring that a customs broker have direct communication with an importer, revising the standard of care of using responsible supervision
Decoding CBP’s Modernized Customs Broker Regulations – What You Need to Know Read More »
FDA’s Focus on Cybersecurity Creates Avoidable Risk for Management
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been actively working to address cybersecurity concerns related to medical devices. On March 29, 2023, FDA published a much-anticipated cybersecurity final guidance regarding cybersecurity requirements for medical device pre-market submissions. Medical devices, like many other modern technologies, are susceptible to cybersecurity vulnerabilities that could potentially compromise patient
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November Food and Agriculture Regulatory Recap
OFW’s Food & Agriculture team regularly monitors announcements and policy issuances from FDA, USDA, and other agencies to keep our clients apprised of regulatory developments that may impact their business. Here are a few of the developments from November that we took note of. If you have any questions or would like more information, please
November Food and Agriculture Regulatory Recap Read More »
October Food and Agriculture Regulatory Recap
OFW’s Food & Agriculture team regularly monitors announcements and policy issuances from FDA, USDA, and other agencies to keep our clients apprised of regulatory developments that may impact their business. Here are a few of the developments from October that we took note of. If you have any questions or would like more information, please
October Food and Agriculture Regulatory Recap Read More »
African Agriculture Forum
The African Green Revolution Summit concluded and served as an introduction for the UN Food Systems Summit to be held at the UN in New York on September 23. Dr. Agnes Kalibata hosted the African Forum and will also Chair the UN Summit. The goal of the UN Summit is to drive an agenda that will
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3/19/20 OFW Law Daily COVID-19 News Conference Summary
President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence held a press conference beginning at 11:30 this morning. They were joined by FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Deborah Birx, and Surgeon General Jerome Adams. Summary of the President’s remarks and questions: The President announced that he signed HR 6201, the Families First
3/19/20 OFW Law Daily COVID-19 News Conference Summary Read More »
FDA’s Final Rule on Intentional Adulteration of Food: Public Meeting and Guidance
FDA has announced a public meeting to discuss its recent Draft Guidance for industry on the agency’s intentional adulteration of food regulation, promulgated under FSMA, i.e., “Mitigation Strategies to Protect Against Intentional Adulteration” (Final Rule), codified at 21 C.F.R. Part 121. The public meeting is taking place on April 17, 2019, from 8:30 AM to
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FDA Extends Compliance Date for The Produce Rule’s Agricultural Water Requirement
As initially announced last week by outgoing Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., the compliance dates for FDA’s agricultural water quality requirements under the “Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption” rule (Produce Rule) are being extended. Today, FDA published a final rule in the Federal
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Government shutdowns – Who dreamed up this crazy idea?
In all the drama and commotion over the government shutdown, now in its third week, with 800,000 federal employees going without paychecks and services disappearing by the day, all prompted by President Trump’s insistence on funding his proposed Mexican border wall and Congressional Democrats’ refusal to provide it, has anyone stopped to notice how frankly
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Opinion: The EU Gene-Editing Decision: Parliament Should Not Let it Stand
The European Union Court of Justice’s (ECJ) recent decision that new gene-editing techniques must go through the same lengthy approval process as traditional transgenic genetically modified (GM) plants has sent shock waves around the world and its greatest impact will be on those who are hungry and food insecure. The decision will have a direct
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John Block: Trade
Pick up a paper or turn on the TV – It’s all about trade. So that’s the subject I’m going to talk about today. Will there be a trade war? Our agriculture industry that exports 20% of what we produce could get pounded pretty hard. A lot of President Trump’s critics don’t think he has
John Block: Tariffs
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Just when I was so comfortable with President Trump’s follow through with so many of his campaign promises – conservative judges, tax reform, cuts in regulations, and securing our borders. The stock market has soared more than 30% since he was elected. Suddenly, last week, he announced his plan
John Block: Tariffs Read More »
John Block: Duarte vs. Big Government
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block You may have heard about the John Duarte wetlands case. John Duarte, a California farmer, bought 450 acres in 2012. He plowed and planted it to wheat. The Army Corps of Engineers, the California Water Quality Control Board, and the EPA came after him. He was looking at a
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To Fix FEMA’s National Flood Insurance, Take a Page From USDA’s Federal Crop Insurance (Part 1 of a 2 Part Series)
It will take months to calculate the damage Hurricanes Harvey and Irma unleashed on Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and other states this summer: lives lost, homes destroyed, businesses wrecked, property damage in the tens of billions of dollars. But beyond everything else, these storms and their massive devastation have exposed deep problems in the Federal government’s
John Block: The To Do List
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block September is here. Labor Day is behind us. The To Do list in this town by the end of the month is a heavy lift. First, we have disaster relief for those devastated by Hurricane Harvey. But we have to raise the debt ceiling to have the money to
John Block: The To Do List Read More »
Fighting the Magnet Wars
This morning I watched the oral arguments before the CPSC in the staff appeal of the ALJ’s decision in the Zen Magnets case. I felt as if I was watching World War One trench warfare in modern dress. And like trench warfare where the combatants refuse to give an inch, insisting on holding their positions,
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John Block: GE Science
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I am encouraged. I think that we have some pretty strong voices in the Trump Administration speaking out in support of agriculture. Our strongest voice comes from Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. He said after meeting with 75 Senators “their number-one, two, and three priorities were trade, trade,
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EU-US Regulatory Cooperation: Strides Made, but More Can Be Done
Earlier this week, the George Washington University Regulatory Studies Center released a significant report, “International Regulatory Cooperation: Benefits, Limitations, and Best Practices.” This report builds on earlier work done by the Center and examines opportunities to improve regulatory cooperation between the European Union and the United States. The report is timely because negotiators from the
EU-US Regulatory Cooperation: Strides Made, but More Can Be Done Read More »
In Memoriam: Robert A. Hahn
Our dear colleague, partner and friend, Robert A. (Bob) Hahn passed away on April 20, 2016, at the age of 57. Bob’s incredible intellect and exceptionally kind heart made him OFW Law’s gentle giant. His quiet tenacity garnered him great respect from clients and colleagues within the food and nutrition community. He contributed greatly to
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CPSC Issues Record $15.45 Million Civil Penalty
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Gree Electric Appliances Inc., of Zhuhai, China; Hong Kong Gree Electric Appliances Sales Co. Ltd., of Hong Kong; and Gree USA Sales Ltd., of City of Industry, Calif., has agreed to pay a $15.45 million civil penalty – the maximum penalty provided for under the
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