TTB PROJECTS INCLUDED IN SEMIANNUAL REGULATORY AGENDA PUBLISHED 1/7/2014 Ever wonder what regulatory proposals or final rules TTB intends to publish in the near future? The semiannual Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions can help answer that question. The latest regulatory plan was published in the Federal Register on January 7, 2014, and the Department of Treasury's portion of that document includes a discussion of the major rulemakings we are planning to give priority in the 2014 fiscal year (see pages 1055 and 1056). You can view the complete list of all the regulatory actions we will be giving priority in the online version of the Unified Agenda, which is posted on the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs website, Reginfo.gov. Looking back: The fall 2013 agenda for the Treasury Department, which included listings for all of our planned rulemaking projects, was posted on November 26, 2013. FDA ANNOUNCES PROPOSED RULE TO PROTECT FOOD AGAINST INTENTIONAL ADULTERATION The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced a proposed rule concerning "Focused Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration." The proposed rule addresses hazards that may be intentionally introduced into foods and beverages by acts of terrorism by implementing focused mitigation strategies in food operations. The FDA proposed this rule as part of its implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act. The FDA proposed rule applies to domestic and foreign food and beverage facilities that are required to register with the FDA under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. However, the proposed rule does NOT apply to alcohol beverages at a facility that is required to obtain a permit from, register with, or obtain approval of a notice or application from TTB. The proposed rule also exempts prepackaged foods handled by TTB-regulated alcohol beverage facilities (aka "the gift basket exemption"), if such food sales make up no more than 5 percent of a facility's overall sales. See section 21 CFR 121.5(e) in the proposed rule for the regulatory exemption for alcohol beverage facilities. You may read the proposed rule, any comments received on it, and other related documents on the Regulations.gov website within Docket No. FDA-2013-N-1425. Comments on the FDA proposed rule are due by March 31, 2014. The FDA will hold a free public meeting concerning this proposed rule on February 20, 2014, in College Park, Maryland. See this notice for details on how to register for, and comment during, the meeting. TTB Newsletter Archives >>> | 
