FDA Releases Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Produce Rule

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for a proposed rule establishing science-based standards for the growing, harvesting, packing and holding of produce for human consumption. The draft EIS reportedly identifies the following rule provisions as potentially significant to the human environment and offers alternatives for consideration: (i) standards directed to agricultural water, (ii) standards directed to biological soil amendments (BSA) of animal origin, (iii) standards directed to domesticated and wild animals, and (iv) general provisions. The agency has also announced a February 10, 2015, public meeting in College Park, Maryland, to discuss the draft EIS. See Federal Register, January 14, 2015.

Issue 551