The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is seeking public comment on a proposal to reduce the waiting period following a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak for certain imported live birds and avian commodities from 90 days to 28 days.
The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine has released the results of its evaluation of the Food Additive Petition and Generally Recognized as Safe Notification review programs and is implementing process changes intended to provide faster, more predictable outcomes for animal food ingredient submissions.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a series of companion animal welfare initiatives that include plans to propose updated standards for dogs under the Animal Welfare Act, increased enforcement activity and additional investigative staffing. The agency also plans to review breeders that surrendered federal or state licenses during the past two years.
USDA is investing $90 million in FY 2027 to strengthen the nation’s defenses against invasive plant pests and diseases. The funding will support surveillance, rapid response, clean planting materials and collaborative projects designed to protect U.S. crops, forests and agricultural production.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed sweeping changes to drug manufacturing registration requirements that could simplify compliance for advanced manufacturing facilities while expanding oversight of foreign suppliers. The proposal would establish a streamlined registration pathway for distributed manufacturing networks and increase FDA visibility into overseas facilities that manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) entering the U.S. drug supply chain, reinforcing broader efforts to strengthen domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing and supply chain resilience.
Veterinary organizations are supporting federal legislation that would classify illicit xylazine as a controlled substance while protecting veterinarians’ continued access to the drug for legitimate animal care.
The American Kennel Club is supporting several canine health and animal welfare provisions included in the Senate Agriculture Committee’s proposed 2026 Farm Bill, including updated dog import requirements, funding for pet-friendly domestic violence shelters and expansion of USDA detector dog training programs.
The AVMA is supporting a House-passed Farm Bill that includes provisions focused on animal health, disease prevention, and veterinary workforce programs.
The ASPCA is urging the Senate to reject a House Farm Bill provision that would override state-level farm animal welfare regulations.
USDA has postponed a key poultry payment rule to allow further review, drawing mixed reactions from industry groups and farmer advocates.
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