WHAT HAPPENED: A bipartisan group of more than two dozen House members sent a letter on August 28 to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer urging continued pressure on China to fully comply with the U.S.-China HPAI Regionalization Agreement. The letter, signed by 29 lawmakers, representing a majority of the districts that have production and are impacted by the bans, thanked Ambassador Greer for prioritizing chicken market access in recent negotiations with China but pressed for further action to remove remaining restrictions on U.S. chicken exports.
CATCH UP QUICKLY: The letter traces the dispute back to a March 2020 Regionalization Agreement, part of the Phase One Trade Agreement, which was designed to limit trade disruptions from HPAI detections by imposing only statewide (rather than nationwide) bans, with resumption of trade 90 days after virus elimination. While China initially followed those terms after the 2022 HPAI outbreak began, the General Administration of Customs China (GACC) reinstated broader bans in August 2022. By April 2026, 44 states were ineligible to export raw chicken to China — representing nearly 98 percent of registered U.S. chicken facilities.
Following President Trump’s May 2026 visit to China, GACC agreed to resume imports from HPAI-free states as designated by APHIS, lifting restrictions on 17 states. However, the lawmakers note China has not adhered to the agreed five-business-day window for lifting restrictions after receiving APHIS closeout reports. As of August 2026, 21 states remain banned, representing 34 percent of U.S. chicken production, though the letter acknowledges GACC recently lifted restrictions for eight additional states.
WHY IT MATTERS: China’s inconsistent enforcement of the Regionalization Agreement has significantly constrained one of the U.S. chicken industry’s most valuable export markets, particularly for paws and dark meat cuts with limited domestic demand. As recently as 2022, China was the second-largest export market for U.S. chicken, with more than 622,000 metric tons valued at over $1.1 billion. By 2025, shipments had fallen to just 93,978 metric tons valued at $291 million. The letter estimates China’s noncompliance with HPAI regionalization and relisting terms is costing American chicken producers more than $800 million annually.
NCC’s TAKE: NCC strongly welcomes this bipartisan letter and shares the lawmakers’ frustration with China’s inconsistent adherence to the HPAI Regionalization Agreement. We appreciate USTR’s work securing the recent state re-listings and echo the letter’s call for continued, sustained pressure on Beijing to honor its commitments. NCC will continue working with USTR, USDA, and Congress to press for full restoration of market access for all eligible states.
WHAT’S NEXT: The letter identifies Iowa, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina as states expected to soon meet the Regionalization Agreement’s provisions for lifted restrictions, pending no additional HPAI detections and timely Chinese action on APHIS closeout reports. Lawmakers are urging USTR to continue raising the issue with Chinese counterparts at every opportunity.
Source: Magnific
WHAT HAPPENED: The House on Tuesday passed the Senate’s version of a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the federal government from September 30 — the end of the fiscal year — through December 11. The vote was 370-48, with 19 Republicans and 29 Democrats voting against it and 14 members not voting. The Senate had already approved the measure, and President Trump signed it on Wednesday, removing the threat of a shutdown.
WHAT IT DOES: The CR funds federal agencies generally at current levels through December 11, giving lawmakers additional time to negotiate a full-year funding measure. Republicans are seeking increased defense spending while cutting most non-defense programs; Democrats say that approach is a non-starter and are pushing for a bipartisan approach treating domestic programs with parity.
WHY IT MATTERS: Republicans and Democrats wanted to prevent any possible funding lapse ahead of the Nov. 3 elections, following a record 43-day shutdown last fall over expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits and a subsequent 76-day partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.
WHAT’S NEXT: Government funding runs through December 11 under the CR. Lawmakers will need to reach agreement on full-year appropriations bills or another funding measure before that deadline.
WHAT HAPPENED: The California Legislature this week passed Assembly Bill 2244 (AB 2244), which would establish a first-of-its-kind state certification seal for food products that meet standards for not being “ultra-processed.” The bill, authored by Assembly Member Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino), passed unanimously, with a 32-0 vote in the Senate and a 72-0 vote in the Assembly, before the Legislature closed its regular session for the year.
WHAT IT WOULD DO: Modeled after the USDA Organic label, AB 2244 would create a voluntary certification program allowing qualifying manufacturers to display a “Non-Ultra processed Certified” seal on packaging. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) would oversee the program, appointing accredited certification agents no later than June 1, 2029 to review manufacturer applications and monitor compliance.
The bill would also require large grocery retailers — those selling more than 25 individual non-UPF-certified product types and generating more than $10 million in annual sales — to make certified products clearly identifiable in-store, through signage, physical separation, or other visual cues. A Public Health Food and Nutrition Education Fund would be established, funded by certification agent registration fees, to support implementation and consumer education.
HOW UPFs ARE DEFINED: The bill broadly defines UPF as any food or beverage containing one or more ingredients with a “specific technical effect,” including surface-active agents, stabilizers and thickeners, propellants, colors, and emulsifiers, among others. Products containing dyes, flavor enhancers, non-sugar sweeteners, and certain other additives would not qualify for the seal.
WHY IT MATTERS: AB 2244 would be the first state-level, government-backed certification program of its kind for non-ultra-processed foods. While the bill applies only in California, the state’s prior UPF-related legislation has prompted similar bills in other states, raising the prospect that AB 2244 could serve as a model nationally.
NCC’s TAKE: While AB 2244 is a state matter rather than a federal one, NCC has strong concerns with any effort to define or classify foods as “ultra-processed” or not, including at the state level. As outlined in NCC’s October 2025 comments to FDA and USDA, NCC believes process-based classification systems — including the NOVA framework that underlies much of the current UPF discourse — are scientifically flawed and misleading. Such systems ignore nutrient density and protein quality, apply inconsistently even among trained nutrition professionals, and lump nutritionally disparate foods together based solely on how they are made rather than what they contain. A breaded chicken tender, which delivers high-quality, complete protein along with iron, zinc and B-vitamins, is treated the same as candy or soda simply because both meet a “processed” threshold. NCC continues to urge policymakers to center any food policy on nutritional composition, not processing method, and cautions that classification schemes like AB 2244’s could stigmatize affordable, nutrient-dense foods that millions of families, schools and food assistance programs rely on.
WHAT’S NEXT: The bill heads to Governor Gavin Newsom, who has until September 30 to sign or veto it; he is expected to sign.
WHAT HAPPENED: The Joint Poultry Industry Safety & Health Council is now accepting applications for the Frank Cruice Innovation in Safety & Health Award, which recognizes poultry and egg industry organizations advancing workplace safety and health through innovative practices, programs or technologies. The award is open to members of NCC, the National Turkey Federation (NTF) and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY), and honors companies that have demonstrated significant operational advancement through a safety or health innovation.
THE DETAILS: Applications are open across several industry categories — Poultry Processing (NAICS 311615), Poultry & Egg Production (NAICS 1123), Animal Feed Manufacturing (NAICS 311119), Animal Support Services (NAICS 115210), and Rendering (NAICS 311613) — with awards issued for innovations in both processes and equipment. A panel of judges will select winners and honorable mentions in each category. To qualify, innovations must be novel solutions proven to reduce occupational injuries or illnesses, or improve safety awareness on or off the job, with demonstrated results over at least six months and the ability to be leveraged industry-wide.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: ”Innovation plays an important role in how we continue to improve workplace safety & health across the poultry and egg industry. This award recognizes companies who are willing to think differently, challenge the status quo, and find new and effective ways to protect our Team Members. At the end of the day, innovation in safety & health is about putting people first and continuing to build a culture where working safely is simply how we work,” said Rick Hellinga, senior director of Safety, Health and Loss Prevention at Simmons Foods and chair of the Joint Poultry Industry Safety & Health Council.
WHY IT MATTERS: The award is named for Frank Cruice, formerly of Perdue Farms, who served on the Joint Poultry Safety & Health Council for more than 20 years, including as Council Chair from 2019 to 2021, before retiring. The award highlights the industry’s ongoing, collaborative investment in workplace safety innovation, spanning processing, production, feed manufacturing, support services and rendering.
WHAT’S NEXT: The application deadline is Oct. 9. Award winners and honorable mention recipients will be announced during a ceremony at the International Production & Processing Expo on Jan. 26, 2027, in Atlanta, Ga. Award program rules, regulations and application forms are available by clicking here.
NCC features in a short spotlight column the official representative from each of our Allied Leader and Allied Member companies. This week’s Allied Leader Spotlight is Jude Cambre, Vice President of Sales and Account Management at Safe Foods.
We asked Jude three questions:
In 2-3 sentences, describe what good or service your company provides to the broiler industry.
Safe Foods is the premier food safety solutions provider in North America. Our extensive team of experts is constantly developing innovative chemistry and sanitizing techniques to protect the food supply across industries.
Can you briefly describe your position and responsibilities within the company?
As Vice President of Sales and Account Management, I oversee our field teams’ alignment with client objectives, driving proactive problem-solving and fostering the trust and credibility essential to our customers’ brand success
What is your favorite chicken dish?
Bacon wrapped boneless chicken thighs stuffed with crawfish dressing!
The staff at the National Chicken Council wishes you a happy Labor Day Weekend! THANK YOU to the men and women of the chicken industry who work every day to produce America’s favorite protein!
WHAT HAPPENED: On August 11, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a proposed rule that would convert the current voluntary Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) notification program into a mandatory one. Under the proposal, any company introducing a human or animal food substance into interstate commerce under the GRAS provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act would be required to submit a GRAS notice to FDA explaining the basis for its safety conclusion — including substances that come into contact with food, such as conveyor belts, shipping containers, and packaging.
HISTORY: The current voluntary framework, finalized in 2016, has allowed but not required companies to share their supporting GRAS data with FDA. The new proposal stems from a March 2025 directive from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as part of the Administration’s Make America Healthy Again initiative, aimed at giving FDA greater visibility into substances entering the food supply.
WHAT ELSE IS IN IT: For substances already on the market, the rule would create a time-limited, streamlined submission option (open for one year after the final rule’s effective date) allowing companies to submit basic information about a substance and its conditions of use rather than a full GRAS notice. The proposal also outlines seven exceptions to the mandatory notification requirement, including substances covered by an existing FDA “No Questions” letter and food ingredients of natural biological origin that were commonly consumed in the U.S. without known adverse effects prior to January 1, 1958.
WHY IT MATTERS: If finalized, this rule would represent a significant shift in how food substances are brought to market, moving away from a system that has allowed companies to self-determine GRAS status without FDA review. Companies would need to assess their full ingredient and packaging portfolios — including materials that contact food during processing — to determine which substances require notification. Failure to notify would not automatically deem a product adulterated, but FDA has signaled it would factor a lack of notification into post-market review and enforcement priorities, including warning letters and seizures.
WHAT’S NEXT: Industry stakeholders should review the proposed rule and consider submitting comments before the December 9, 2026 deadline. NCC is reviewing the proposal’s implications for the chicken industry and will be preparing comments. A detailed legal analysis of the rule is available from Hogan Lovells Cadwalader by clicking here.
