Agriculture

• Preparing Your Workplace for Legalized Marijuana

  November 15, 2018

  Seeing through the Smoke: Preparing Your Workplace for Legalized Marijuana On November 6, 2018, Michigan became the tenth state in the nation and the first state in the Midwest to legalize the use of recreational marijuana. This approval has left employers across the state questioning what this means for their workplace. The new law called […]

• Butter be Ready: The Preventive Controls for Human and Animal Food Rules Take Effect

  September 20, 2018

  As of September 17, 2018, food facilities of all sizes are required to be in full or partial compliance with the Preventive Controls for Human Food (PCHF) and Preventive Controls for Animal Food (PCAF) rules. The PCHF and PCAF rules are part of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). As such, the rules require food […]

• Foreign Supplier Verification Program Rule Affects More Importers

  July 26, 2018

  The Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) was published by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2015. It requires that importers or their agents ensure foreign food suppliers meet the same food safety standards required of domestic food manufacturers. For the purpose of the FSVP, an importer is a U.S. owner or consignee of […]

• Food Safety Modernization Act: The Impact on the Food Industry One Bite at a Time

  July 16, 2018

  The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is a law applicable to food producers, processors and transporters. The purpose of the law is to protect the public from foodborne illness. Data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention data indicates that over 3,000 people in the United States die from foodborne illnesses each year while […]

• PACA Contracts: Court Ruling Outlines Best Practices for Payment Terms

  October 3, 2017

  Sometimes growers and other sellers of perishable agricultural commodities (fruits and vegetables) lack attention to the details when it comes to their contracts. Many sales occur by way of handshake. While that process may be what is expected in your locality, growers and sellers in the Western District of Michigan are putting themselves in serious […]

• New Regulations for Michigan Medical Marijuana Businesses Put Applicants on FBI’s Radar

  August 1, 2017

  (August 1, 2017) Last month, Michigan’s Governor, Rick Snyder, signed into law new amendments to the Michigan Medical Marijuana Facilities Licensing Act (the “MMFLA”) which once again highlights significant differences between state and federal laws pertaining to the use and regulation of medical marijuana. The new law could also force those who wish to legally […]

• Recent Ruling Clarifies Possession for Medical Marijuana Caregivers

  May 8, 2017

  (May 9, 2017) The air just got a little clearer for medical marijuana caregivers when it comes to determining how much of the drug they can keep on hand for patients. The Michigan Court of Appeals, in People v. Manuel, ruled that it’s the “dried” weight, not the “drying” weight, that counts when determining whether […]