New regs for Thursday: Tobacco, lamps, crowdfunding

Thursday’s edition of the Federal Register contains new rules from the Food and Drug Administration that would reduce red tape for tobacco companies, and other rules for lamps, trademarks and crowdfunding.

Here’s what is happening:

Lamps: The Department of Energy is delaying new energy efficiency rules for general service lamps. The DOE has been considering new energy conservation standards lamps, but decided to push back the public comment period by two weeks to Feb. 7 at the request of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. 

Tobacco: The Food and Drug Administration is considering excluding tobacco products from certain environmental regulations, because their impact on the environment is “negligible,” the agency said. 

The rule would exclude tobacco companies from filing environmental impact statements, because they release fewer toxic chemicals into the environment than other manufacturing plants. 

Animal feeds: The Food and Drug Administration is changing the rules for the manufacturing of animal feeds to account for a new animal drug. The rule goes into effect immediately.

Trademarks: The United States Patent and Trademark Office is considering new rules that would clarify how to file for a trademark. The new rules would provide more guidance on the process. 

Crowdfunding: The Securities and Exchange Commission is considering another crowdfunding rule that would make it easier for small businesses to raise money. The SEC is responsible for implementing crowdfunding rules that come from President Obama’s JOBS Act.