New regs for Wednesday: GMO labels, sharks, dolphins

Wednesday’s edition of the Federal Register contains new GMO labeling guidelines, as well as protections for sharks and dolphins.

Here’s what is happening:

GMO: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is moving forward with new GMO labeling guidelines for food manufacturers.

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service on Tuesday issued new guidelines for food manufacturers that claim they do not use genetically modified organisms or other bioengineered ingredients in their meat and eggs.

The public has 60 days to comment.

Sharks: The National Marine Fisheries Service is moving forward with new protections for porbeagle sharks.

Fishermen must release porbeagle sharks they accidentally catch in the Atlantic Ocean while fishing for tuna, swordfish, and billfish, the agency said Tuesday.

The rules follow recommendations from the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas.

The protections go into effect in 30 days.

Dolphins: The National Marine Fisheries Service is proposing new protections for Hawaiian spinner dolphins.

People will be prohibited from swimming within 50 yards of Hawaiian spinner dolphins, under the proposal. The rule would also apply to boats.

The public has until Oct. 23 to comment.