🐎Removal of Horse Inspection Regulations by USDA
FSIS is amending the Federal meat inspection regulations to remove the regulation that established a voluntary fee-for-service program for ante-mortem inspection of horses. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia vacated the voluntary fee-for-service program on March 28, 2007. FSIS is removing the regulation to ensure the Agency's regulations accurately reflect current requirements.
Learn More🦆Final Programmatic EIS for HPAI Outbreak Response by USDA
We are advising the public that a final programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) has been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to our response activities to highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in commercial and backyard poultry operations located throughout the United States. The final EIS analyses and compares the potential environmental effects of using three action alternatives during an HPAI outbreak. We are making this final programmatic EIS available to the public for review.
Learn More🌾USDA Seeks Public Input on Agricultural Data Collection Improvements
The Department of Agriculture announces a request for public comments on information collection aimed at enhancing the quality of survey data. The Economic Research Service seeks to improve its methodologies, technology, and respondent recruitment protocols, ensuring that the surveys are effective and minimize respondent burden while meeting data standards for agriculture and rural America.
Learn More🌾Department of Agriculture's Information Collection Notice Overview
The Department of Agriculture announces an information collection request for the National Agricultural Statistics Service focused on stock reports for crops and livestock. It aims to evaluate the necessity, accuracy, and methods of data collection impacting farmers and agricultural businesses, ensuring timely market insights and compliance with regulatory standards.
Learn More🍬Notice of Special Safeguard Duties on Sugar Imports in 2025
After reviewing the volume of articles containing over 65 percent by dry weight of sugars described in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS), the Administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service has determined that the yearly special safeguard trigger level has been met and a special safeguard duty on articles containing over 65 percent by dry weight of sugars will be imposed.
Learn More🍗Delay in Verification Sampling of NRTE Chicken Products Announced
FSIS is announcing that it is delaying the date it will begin sampling not ready-to-eat (NRTE) breaded stuffed chicken products for Salmonella and delaying the date establishments need to reassess their Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans for these products from May 1, 2025, to November 3, 2025. This additional time is necessary for FSIS to finalize its instructions to inspectors and prepare its inspection program personnel (IPP) and laboratories for the new sampling and testing. In addition, this additional time is necessary for FSIS to provide industry with guidance on holding and controlling products pending FSIS' sampling results.
Learn More💵APHIS User Fee System Modification and Business Implications
Pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974 and Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A-108, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) gives notice that an agency component, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), proposes to modify an existing system of records notice titled, APHIS Veterinary Services User Fee System, USDA/APHIS-18. The system will be renamed the APHIS User Fee System, USDA/APHIS-18. This system, among other things, helps APHIS track, collect, and process fees associated with services APHIS provides.
Learn More🏡Energy Efficiency Standards Compliance Dates Extended for USDA Housing
On April 26, 2024, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) published the "Final Determination: Adoption of Energy Efficiency Standards for New Construction of HUD- and USDA-Financed Housing" notice (Final Determination) in the Federal Register. The Final Determination provides compliance dates for HUD and USDA programs covered by the Final Determination. This notice delays compliance dates by six months over the published compliance dates for covered projects in the following USDA programs: Section 502 (Guaranteed Loans, Direct Loans) and Section 523 (Self Help Loans).
Learn More🏡Amendment to Multifamily Housing Funding Notice by USDA
The Rural Housing Service (RHS or Agency), an agency within the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development (RD), is amending two program funding opportunities to remove references to the prior Administration's key priorities and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion)-related scoring criteria to bring them into compliance with the Executive Order, "Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing", issued on January 20, 2025. The following funding notices are covered by this amendment: Notice of Funds Availability for the Multifamily Housing Preservation and Revitalization Demonstration Program and for Section 515 Subsequent Loans for Preservation Activities for the Fiscal Year 2024, and Consolidated Multifamily Housing Technical Assistance Grant Program Notice of Funding Availability Fiscal Year 2024. This notice also confirms that previous Administration key priorities will not be considered during application scoring and makes clear that applicants who already have applied need not reapply.
Learn More🌾Regional Food Business Center Program Information Collection Notice
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to extend its current approval from the Office of Management and Budget to collect information for the Regional Food Business Center Program under its Local and Regional Foods Division.
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