FAA Proposes Rules for Drones

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has just published its long-awaited proposed rules for the operation of commercial drones.  The need for some standardized regulation of drones used outside of the military--for photography, crop inspection, and other commercial uses, as well as for recreation--became all too clear in late January when a hobbyist's toy quadcopter crashed down on the White House lawn.

A recent Mashable article provides a brief overview of the scope and major implications of the proposed rules. The FAA website has some helpful documents, including a rule summary, and for those who want to explore drone regulation in more detail, the full text of the proposed rules for "Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems" to be published in the Federal Register. Privacy concerns related to the use and development of commercial drones are not addressed in the proposed regulations, but requirements for federal agencies to comply with current privacy and civil liberties laws are outlined in a recent Presidential memorandum and executive order. 

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Chocolate Law

Unlike my fur-based brethren, as a virtual cat I can indulge in chocolate on Valentine's day (and every other day).  But, like my fellow fur-based felines, I am finicky and want to know that my chocolate is of the highest quality.  Like many, I prefer dark chocolate for both the flavor and health benefits.  Interestingly, there is no legal definition of "dark" chocolate (see chart and link below) .  For a great primer on chocolate, see You Say Cacao, I Say Cocoa on WebMD.

Here are the relevant legal guidelines for chocolate-loving lawyer's on Valentine's Day.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the naming and ingredients of cocoa products:

Product	Chocolate Liquor	Milk Solids	CFR section in Title 21
Milk Chocolate	≥ 10%	≥ 12%	163.130
Sweet Chocolate	≥ 15%	≥ 12%	163.123
Semisweet or Bittersweet Chocolate	≥ 35%	≥ 12%	163.123(a)(3)
White Chocolate	≥ 20% cacao fat	≥ 14%	163.124

Enjoy  and Happy Valentine's Day !!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Federal Register's Electronic Public Inspection Desk

Just in time for the Presidential transition period and the final regulatory rush (see yesterday's post), the Office of the Federal Register (OFR) has announced an electronic Public Inspection Desk to provide free online access to all documents--new final regulations, proposed regulations, and notices--that will be published in the next day's Federal Register, and to some that are scheduled to be published at a later date. For 72 years, the OFR has been filing these documents for public viewing as legally required, but only at their Washington, D.C., location. Now anyone in the world with a computer can read, print and download these pre-publication version documents in PDF format, beginning at 8:45 a.m. EST each federal business day. Arranged by agency, all documents include both the time of filing and the date that the regulation or notice will appear in the Federal Register. Documents in the "Special Filings" list for a particular day were filed at times other than 8:45 a.m., such as later in the day on an "emergency filing" basis.

This is a site to bookmark and revisit as a law student and practicing attorney. It is invaluable for keeping on top of federal regulations affecting business, finance, health, energy, the environment, and other areas of public interest.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat