Government Shutdown; Update on Impact on USDA & FDA

The US federal government is shutdown. The impact will be felt by all areas of FDA and USDA regulated industry.
The FDA will cease all non-emergency services not funded by user fees. During the shutdown, FDA operations will be limited to work that involves the safety of human life, the protection of property and criminal law enforcement. The FDA is part of the Department of Health and Human Services, which furloughed 52% of its staff because of the shutdown. The FDA is expected to furlough 45 percent of its staff. The Agency will “cease safety activities such as routine establishment inspections, some compliance and enforcement activities, monitoring of imports, notification programs (e.g., food contact substances, infant formula), and the majority of the laboratory research necessary to inform public health decision-making,