This Week's Spotlights
Legislative Updates - Pending State Actions
New Jersey Considers Ban on Sale of Companion Animals
New Jersey Assembly No. 4644 would prohibit the sale of cats, dogs, and rabbits by pet shops.
Case Law Updates - Federal Case Law Updates
Upton’s and PBFA Challenge Oklahoma Labeling Law
Upton’s Naturals and the Plant Based Foods Association have filed suit against the state of Oklahoma, bringing a First Amendment challenge to the state’s law that requires disclaimers on plant-based products that use a term normally associated with conventional meat.
Agency Updates
APHIS Proposes Changes to AWA Information Requirements
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has proposed a rule altering information requirements under the Animal Welfare Act. The rule would remove the requirement that research facilities update their registration information every three years, remove the requirement of continual review of research animal use activities, remove the requirement that facilities request an inactive status, and remove the requirement that the Institutional Official or Chief Executive Officer sign the annual report. The agency is accepting comments on the proposed rule until November 16, 2020.
Academic Updates - Articles
Article Examines Sow Stall Free Australian Standards
A new article examines the rise of the “sow stall free” standards in Australia through interactions between social movement activism, supermarkets, and the pork industry.
New Report on Labeling of Plant-Based Foods
A new report from the World Resources Institute analyzes the kind of language to use and to avoid in order to make plant-based foods appealing to more consumers.
Legislative Updates
Pending State Actions
New Jersey Considers Appointing Animal Advocates in Criminal Cases
New Jersey Senate No. 2868 proposes to allow for the appointment of an advocate to represent the interests of the animal in any criminal case regarding the welfare of an animal.
New Jersey Considers Ban on Sale of Companion Animals
New Jersey Assembly No. 4644 would prohibit the sale of cats, dogs, and rabbits by pet shops.
Case Law Updates
Federal Case Law Updates
Upton’s and PBFA Challenge Oklahoma Labeling Law
Upton’s Naturals and the Plant Based Foods Association have filed suit against the state of Oklahoma, bringing a First Amendment challenge to the state’s law that requires disclaimers on plant-based products that use a term normally associated with conventional meat.
Agency Updates
NMFS Initiates Five Year Review for Five Sturgeon Species
The National Marine Fisheries Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have announced the initiation of a 5-year review for five foreign sturgeon species. The agencies are accepting information to help them complete their review until November 16, 2020.
FWS Proposes 4(d) Rules for Two Crayfish Species
The Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed to list two species of crayfish as threatened under the Endangered Species Act under section 4(d). The agency is accepting comments on the proposal until November 16, 2020.
NMFS and NOAA Issue Final Rule on Sea Turtle Limits
The National Marine Fisheries Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have issued a final rule that lowers the limit for fleet interaction for leatherback sea turtles and removes the limit for fleet interactions for North Pacific loggerhead turtles.
BLM Calls for Nominations for National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board
The Bureau of Land Management has announced that it is accepting nominations for three positions on the Wild Horse and Burrow Advisory Board. The agency is accepting nominations until November 2, 2020.
AMS Releases Final Economic Analysis Report on OLPP Rule
The Agricultural Marketing Service has released a final economic analysis report on the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP) Rule, finding that no additional rulemaking action with regard to the OLPP rule is necessary.
APHIS Proposes Changes to AWA Information Requirements
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has proposed a rule altering information requirements under the Animal Welfare Act. The rule would remove the requirement that research facilities update their registration information every three years, remove the requirement of continual review of research animal use activities, remove the requirement that facilities request an inactive status, and remove the requirement that the Institutional Official or Chief Executive Officer sign the annual report. The agency is accepting comments on the proposed rule until November 16, 2020.
Academic Updates
Articles
Article Examines Sow Stall Free Australian Standards
A new article examines the rise of the “sow stall free” standards in Australia through interactions between social movement activism, supermarkets, and the pork industry.
New Report on Labeling of Plant-Based Foods
A new report from the World Resources Institute analyzes the kind of language to use and to avoid in order to make plant-based foods appealing to more consumers.