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USDA/AMS RIN: 0581-AE24 Publication ID: Fall 2024 
Title: National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard; Text Message Disclosures 
Abstract:

In September 2022, the ruling from the U.S. District Court of Northern California in Natural Grocers, et al. v. Vilsack, et al. found that The Agricultural Marketing Service’s (AMS) action of offering a standalone text message disclosure option (7 CFR 66.108) as an additional and comparable option fell outside of the statutory authority of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et. seq.) and failed to address the problem of insufficient access to the bioengineered food disclosure through the electronic or digital link disclosure option.  The Judge also found that an additional and comparable disclosure option must be included when using the electronic or digital link disclosure option (7 CFR 66.106).  The Judge’s order remanded sections 66.106 and 108 to AMS without vacatur for further consideration.

In accordance with the Judge’s ruling, AMS proposes a rule for public comment that would amend the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard to remove the standalone text message disclosure option found at 7 CFR 66.108 and to add language to the electronic or digital disclosure option found at 7 CFR 66.106, requiring an accompanying BE symbol or on-package text as defined in sections 66.104 and 66.102 when an electronic or digital link disclosure is made.

 
Agency: Department of Agriculture(USDA)  Priority: Section 3(f)(1) Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage 
Major: Undetermined  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 7 CFR 66.106    7 CFR 66.108   
Legal Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6501   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
RFI  04/10/2024  89 FR 25187   
RFI Comment Period End  06/10/2024 
NPRM  12/00/2024 
Final Rule  08/00/2025 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined  Government Levels Affected: None 
Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Dr. Kenneth M. Becker
Chief, Research and Rulemaking Branch
Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Marketing Service
Food Disclosure and Labeling Division, USDA / AMS / Fair Trade Practices Program, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0216,
Washington, DC 20250-0216
Phone:202 570-3661
Email: kenneth.becker@usda.gov