Canada warned the United States Tuesday about a pest problem previously not seen in North America involving apple trees.  The organism does not poise any immediate threat to human health.   The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has been notified by the Canadian […]

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a proposed modification to the rules required for the labeling of muscle cut commodities covered under the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) program, writes Sarah Mikesell, 5m senior editor.   Under the proposed rule, origin designations for animals slaughtered in the US […]

US – Organic certification verifies that livestock are raised according to the USDA organic regulations throughout their lives.   Like other organic products, organic livestock must be: Organic livestock standards Farmers and ranchers must accommodate the health and natural behavior of their animals year-round. For example, organic livestock must be: […]

US – National Farmers Union (NFU) and the United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA), have released a legal analysis that details the available options for successful US compliance of a recent World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling on County-of-Origin labeling (COOL).   “The comprehensive legal analysis demonstrates that the USDA can come […]

US – Calling it vital to the US pork industry’s ability to more quickly control and eradicate foreign animal diseases and keep export markets open, the National Pork Producers Council has praised the US Department of Agriculture for issuing a final rule to implement a national animal identification system.   […]

WASHINGTON – National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Chief Veterinarian Kathy Simmons issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) final animal disease traceability (ADT) rule, which was announced by Secretary Vilsack this afternoon.   “NCBA has been an industry leader […]