At the request of 13 member states, the Council of the European Union (EU) has adopted a draft directive granting its member states “more flexibility to decide whether or not they wish to cultivate genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on their territory.” In a July 23, 2014, press release, the council states that it sought “to provide a sound legal basis in the related EU legal framework in order to allow member states to restrict or prohibit the cultivation, in all or part of their territory, of GMOs that have been authorised or are under authorisation at the EU level.” The measure was originally proposed in 2009 but stalled after a 2011 draft; in June 2014, the EU Environmental Council reached a political agreement that led to this draft directive, which the council projects will be adopted in 2015. See Law360, July 23, 2014. Issue 531
Category Archives Issue 531
Representatives of more than 170 countries, the European Union and governmental and non-governmental organizations convened in Geneva, Switzerland, on July 14-18, 2014, for the annual meeting of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Delegates reportedly adopted a recommendation that no more than 0.01 mg/kg of lead be allowed in infant formula and that raw materials be sourced from geographical areas where lead is less prevalent, citing the particular vulnerability of infants and young children to developmental health effects from lead exposure. Codex also set a maximum allowable level for arsenic in rice of 0.2 mg/kg because long-term exposure to the naturally occurring chemical has been linked to the development of cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Other decisions made during the annual meeting related to restricting the use of eight veterinary drugs (chloramphenicol, malachite green, carbadox, furazolidone, nitrofural, chlorpromazine, stilbenes and olaquinadox) in food-producing animals to prevent any residual quantities in meat, milk,…
The National Nanotechnology Coordination Office will host a July 31, 2014, webinar to discuss research undertaken by U.S. government National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) agencies. NNI’s six core research areas include nanomaterial measurement infrastructure; human exposure assessment; human health; environment; risk assessment and risk management methods; and informatics and modeling. See Federal Register, July 22, 2014. Issue 531
Following the recent death of an Ohio teenager whose autopsy reportedly revealed blood levels of more than 70 micrograms of caffeine per milliliter, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week issued “consumer advice” warning parents that powdered pure caffeine is a “powerful stimulant and very small amounts may cause accidental overdose.” Such products are unregulated and sold as dietary supplements. According to the agency, a teaspoon of pure caffeine is “roughly equivalent” to the amount contained in 25 cups of coffee. FDA is encouraging the public as well as health care providers to report any adverse events related to consumption of powdered pure caffeine to the agency. See Associated Press, July 19, 2014; FDA Consumer Advice on Powdered Pure Caffeine, July 21, 2014. Issue 531
The White House has issued a June 24, 2014, memorandum creating a federal strategy “to promote the health of honey bees and other pollinators.” Highlighting the critical role of pollinators in agriculture and the economy, the memorandum establishes an interagency Pollinator Health Task Force and directs members to develop a National Pollinator Health Strategy by December 21, 2014. Among other things, the strategy requires an action plan for understanding, preventing and recovering from pollinator losses through the use of longitudinal studies, expanded data collection and sharing, assessment of native pollinator populations, and development of affordable seed mixes for the maintenance of honey bees and other pollinators. Agency representatives appointed to the task force will also implement a number of policies designed to incorporate pollinator health into the management of federal land, rights-of-way, and restoration and reclamation projects. To this end, the White House has called for further education to help…
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