January 25, 2001

A Bush administration review of last-minute regulatory changes by the Clinton administration will include some food safety actions. Regulations that would require food plants to implement Listeria control measures are among those delayed by a government-wide order that calls a halt to most non- emergency regulations.

The regulatory standstill, similar to actions by President Clinton and other presidents, was ordered January 20 by White House chief of staff Andrew Card. Most regulations that have not yet been published in the Federal Register are likely to be delayed at least for a while.

The standstill is not a moratorium on new regulations. Card's order says that Presidentially-appointed officials can still send rules forward. At the moment, the only Senate-confirmed presidential appointee at the Agriculture Department is Secretary Ann Veneman.

The order provides a public health and safety exception, and also allows regulations to go forward if they respond to statutory deadlines or court orders.