New regs for Wednesday: Mad cows, falcon hunting

Long-awaiting regulations on mad cow disease, falconry and drug compounding will be issued in Wednesday’s edition of the Federal Register.

Here’s a peek at what’s on the way:

Mad cow:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is changing the import rules to protect against mad cow disease. 

The agency is establishing a new system for classifying regions around the globe in terms of their risk of the brain disease, which can be fatal, based on a system used by the World Organization for Animal Health.

The rule change was first announced in November, and lawmakers said that it would allow U.S. beef to enter more foreign markets. 

Drugs:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking action to implement a new law aimed at protecting the nation’s drug supply.

The agency is working on lists of drugs that can pose a problem for compounding pharmacies, which mix drugs to make new batches, and of substances those compounders can use to make new medicine. At the same time, the FDA is also withdrawing an old proposal to list the drug substances used in compounding.

Hunting:

The Fish and Wildlife Service is allowing states to take on the responsibilities of permitting the use of birds like falcons for hunting. 

When the rule takes effect on Jan. 1, federal permits will no longer be required to practice falconry in states with their own rules.

The action came in response to a request from 17 states.

Toxic chemicals:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is amending some of its rules under the Toxic Substances Control Act to require that companies use electronic systems to notify the agency about their chemicals.

“EPA is requiring the use of electronic reporting in order to minimize the paperwork burden associated with the underlying regulatory requirements and to minimize the cost to the Federal Government of the creation, collection, maintenance, use, dissemination, and disposition of information,” it said. 

Finance:

The Federal Reserve and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, which works out of the Treasury Department, are jointly issuing rules clarifying when money transfers are covered by their regulations.

Energy:

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is issuing a regulation specifying where some power facilities’ auxiliary installations need to be placed. 

Communications:

The Federal Communications Commission is proposing to make changes to licensing and technical rules for a band of the spectrum. 

Fishing and water animals:

Fishing regulators are allowing fishers to catch Pacific ocean perch in the Bering Sea in order to fulfill the annual quota. 

The Commerce Department is also issuing rules allowing some marine mammals to be unintentionally disturbed or killed during Navy training exercises through November 2018.

Information:

The Overseas Private Investment Corporation is proposing to change its rules for dealing with Freedom of Information Act requests and nonpublic testimony or court records.

Education:

The Department of Education is reopening the comment period on a proposal to expand some of its programs and projects.