A coalition of major farm, food and fuel industry trade groups has reportedly filed a lawsuit in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to challenge the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) decision to allow gasoline with up to 15 percent ethanol (E15) to be sold for vehicles made in the 2007 model year or later. The coalition, which includes the American Petroleum Institute, apparently contends that tests to determine whether the blend will damage these cars, light-duty trucks and SUVs have not been completed. Under the Clean Air Act, EPA may not approve a new fuel additive unless it “will not cause or contribute to a failure of any emission control device or system.” The industry interests also claim that EPA lacks the authority to grant a “partial waiver” to allow the fuel to be used in only some vehicles, saying the agency should not approve the fuel unless it is…
Category Archives Issue 372
The Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) has passed a resolution to temporarily “prevent the further sale and distribution of malt beverage products containing caffeine and other stimulants.” Washington Governor Christine Gregoire (D) joined WSLCB in announcing the measure, citing reports that nine Central Washington University students “became dangerously ill” after consuming alcoholic energy drinks (AEDs). “Quite simply, these drinks are trouble. They contain up to 12 percent alcohol – more than twice the amount found in most beer,” Gregoire was quoted as saying. “Added to that are large amounts of caffeine, which can mask the effects of alcohol. By taking these drinks off the shelves we are saying ‘no’ to irresponsible drinking and taking steps to prevent incidents like the one that made these college students so ill.” The emergency ban apparently covers all AEDs “that combine beer, strong beer, or malt liquor with caffeine, guarana, taurine, or other similar…
According to media sources, the EU Council of Ministers’ Legal Service has expressed “strong doubts” about the feasibility of a proposal that would allow individual member states to set their own policies for regulating genetically modified (GM) crops. The opinion has reportedly raised questions about whether the legislation would violate World Trade Organization rules, especially since a GM crop ban based on ethical rather than environmental or health concerns would be difficult to uphold in European courts. An EU official has quoted the opinion, which was due to be officially presented on November 11, as saying that, “Economic arguments cannot be relied upon . . . so the obvious remaining candidate would therefore be ethical reasons.” Also referring to this “leaked” legal opinion, the Institute for Environmental Studies at the VU University Amsterdam has hailed the report as validating the views of its own biotechnology law specialist, Thijs Etty. “This…
An international panel of experts has identified food as “by far the main source of bisphenol A (BPA) exposure,” although levels of chemical in the human body are “very low” and quickly eliminated through urine. The World Health Organization (WHO) and U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) announced the findings after more than 30 experts convened in Ottawa, Canada, to review the latest scientific data on BPA. The panel apparently concluded that BPA migrates into food from food packaging, such as plastic containers, baby bottles and coated food cans. Other BPA sources–including house dust, soil, toys, dental treatments, and thermal cash register receipts–are “of minor relevance,” according to a November 9, 2010, joint WHO/FAO press release. The panel reportedly noted, however, that “it is difficult to interpret the relevance” of recent scientific studies that have associated BPA exposure with adverse health effects, warning that “[u]ntil these associations can be confirmed,…
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released an 88-page report that claims better collaboration is needed among the four federal agencies overseeing live animal imports to reduce the risk of animal-related diseases coming into the United States. According to GAO, more than 1 billion live animals were imported into America from 2005 through 2008, but “gaps” in the statutory and regulatory framework could allow animal and zoonotic diseases to “emerge anywhere and spread rapidly.” GAO reviewed statutes, visited ports of entry and surveyed the Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of the Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection. The experts cited by the report identified several barriers to agency collaboration, “such as different program priorities and unclear roles and responsibilities.” GAO also found that “because each…
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