Brooks Animal Law Digest - Issue No. 40 (July 13, 2020)

The House Agriculture Appropriations bill would revoke all line speed waivers under the Federal Meat Inspection Act or Poultry Products Inspection Act.

The Ninth Circuit has ruled that the Fish and Wildlife Service improperly attempted to isolate and delist the Yellowstone-area population of grizzly bears under the Endangered Species Act. The court said the agency had not adequately examined the impact the delisting would have for broader grizzly populations.

The New-England Anti-Vivisection Society and the Animal Legal Defense Fund, represented by the Harvard Animal Law & Policy Clinic, have filed suit against the United States Department of Agriculture, alleging that the agency’s rejection of their petition and requesting that the agency put into place appropriate psychological well-being standards for nonhuman primates as required by the Animal Welfare Act is unlawful under the Administrative Procedure Act.

Cargill has been sued in Calgary in a class action alleging the company failed to take sufficient measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The House Agriculture Appropriations bill would revoke all line speed waivers under the Federal Meat Inspection Act or Poultry Products Inspection Act.

The Ninth Circuit has ruled that the Fish and Wildlife Service improperly attempted to isolate and delist the Yellowstone-area population of grizzly bears under the Endangered Species Act. The court said the agency had not adequately examined the impact the delisting would have for broader grizzly populations.

The New-England Anti-Vivisection Society and the Animal Legal Defense Fund, represented by the Harvard Animal Law & Policy Clinic, have filed suit against the United States Department of Agriculture, alleging that the agency’s rejection of their petition and requesting that the agency put into place appropriate psychological well-being standards for nonhuman primates as required by the Animal Welfare Act is unlawful under the Administrative Procedure Act."

The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled that in the State of Iowa, if an individual lives in a residential complex due to its no pets policy in order to avoid an allergic reaction, a new tenant may not bring in an emotional support animal.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has proposed to transition fully to the use of radio frequency identification tags on cattle and bison. The agency is accepting comments on the proposal until October 5, 2020.

The Food Safety Inspection Service has denied a petition and petition addendum filed by Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in May, requesting that the agency require meat and poultry processors test their products for the presence of COVID-19, disclose to local health authorities and the public the number of workers infected with COVID-19, and include warnings that products have not been “certified virus-free.

Cargill has been sued in Calgary in a class action alleging the company failed to take sufficient measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Michigan Governor Whitmer has signed an Executive Order outlining guidelines to keep meat processing plant employees safe during the pandemic.