The Obama administration has released its “Current Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions,” detailing regulatory and deregulatory activities under development throughout the federal government including the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Food and Drug Administration. The Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda are published semiannually and can serve as an outline for progress on food safety and other manufacturing issues.
The spring 2014 document reflects a series of missed deadlines for food-related regulatory action by both FDA and USDA. They include the Modernization of Poultry Slaughter Inspection rule (which would require the recording and reporting of distribution and sales information for antimicrobial agents used in livestock), the final rule for labeling mechanically tenderized beef and more. The Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda also contain updates on components of the Food Safety and Modernization Act, including the Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Controls, Produce Safety and Sanitary Transportation rules.