People who observe Halal and Kosher religious practices are increasingly faced with a threat to the prohibition of such slaughter practices in certain countries. Many Muslim and Jewish observers follow dietary religious laws if they eat meat. Specifically, livestock and poultry must be slaughtered following strict rules, requiring that the animal is healthy at the
Animal Agriculture
Is North Carolina’s Right to Farm Act a “Special” Law?
By Fox Rothschild LLP on
In this series of posts examining a recent challenge to North Carolina’s expansion of its Right to Farm Act, Rural Empowerment Ass’n for Cmty. Help v. State, No. 19-CVS-008198 (N.C. Super. Ct. filed June 19, 2019) (detailed here), today’s post considers the plaintiffs’ invocation of the relatively unknown, but not un-litigated, prohibition on…
Everything but the Kitchen Sink: Advocacy groups cite a number of constitutional challenges to North Carolina’s expansion of the Right to Farm Act.
By Fox Rothschild LLP on
In the ongoing controversy over a series of nuisance suits regarding eastern North Carolinian hog-farming operations, a collection of advocacy groups have now filed a constitutional challenge to the North Carolina General Assembly’s recent amendments to the Right to Farm Act (the “Act”) (detailed here) in Wake County Superior Court. Rural Empowerment Ass’n…
The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act and Undercover Employees
By Fox Rothschild LLP on
In recent years, farmers and ranchers have been increasingly targeted by animal rights groups trespassing on their properties, stealing farm animals, and other acts of vandalism. The frequency with which undercover animal rights groups infiltrate farms, ranches and other animal enterprises as undercover employees is increasing. In light of this increased activity, farmers and ranchers…
Best Practices for Meat Producers
By Olivia F. Fajen on
Beef producers and packers have been required for years to “identify hazard points and critical points during beef slaughtering, which is a necessary first step toward developing a hazard analysis and critical control point system to control meat contamination by Escherichia coli O157:H7.” See R. Guyon, et. al, Hazard Analysis of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Contamination …
Animal Biotechnology-The Way Forward
By Nancy E. Halpern, D.V.M. on
On October 30, 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration “announced the Plant and Animal Biotechnology Innovation Action Plan to outline the key priorities the agency will pursue to support innovation in plant and animal biotechnology while advancing the agency’s public health mission. The overall goal of the action plan is to ensure the safety…
FDA’s Revised Veterinary Feed Directive Part II
By Nancy E. Halpern, D.V.M. on
As previously described, FDA has updated its Draft Guidance for Industry, #120, regarding the Veterinary Feed Directive Regulation.
The intersection of federal and state law impacted by this regulation is interesting.
Specifically, what is the impact to a veterinarian when the Veterinarian-Client-Patient relationship as defined by the relevant state law (governing that veterinarian’s license)…
North Carolina expands protections for its farmers under the Right to Farm Act.
By Olivia F. Fajen on
In 2014 and 2015, 26 nuisance lawsuits representing over 500 North Carolina residents were brought against Murphy-Brown, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods, in North Carolina federal court. The lawsuits involve 89 hog farms or “CAFOs” (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) in Eastern North Carolina. Although Murphy-Brown owns some of the farms itself, in most instances, Murphy-Brown…
Highly Pathogenic Poultry and Swine Diseases Continue to Spread Affecting National and International Markets
By Nancy E. Halpern, D.V.M. on
Virulent Newcastle disease (VND), formerly known as Exotic Newcastle Disease, and African Swine Fever outbreaks continue to impact poultry in California and hogs in China, respectively. Notably, these diseases are largely not infectious to humans, but nevertheless are impacting farmers, ranchers, hobbyists, national and internal markets.
California has been trying to stamp out VND since…
USDA amends the national list of allowed and prohibited substances for livestock in the National Organic Program.
By Nancy E. Halpern, D.V.M. on
In addition to other activities, AMS manages the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances used on certified organic premises, which it recently amended. …