Organizations Express Concern over Food Safety Modernization Act

AUSTIN, Texas--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--More than one hundred leading food, agricultural, ranching and consumer groups have signed a letter being distributed to all U.S. Senators urging them to adopt amendments introduced by Montana Senator Jon Tester that would exempt small food processors from the expense and regulatory oversight required by the Food Safety and Modernization Act.

“Food safety is a priority for us all”

The amendments would leave small producers subject to state and local regulations, but not the new federal regulations designed for industrial food processors.

“All of the well-publicized incidents of contamination in recent years – whether in spinach, peppers, or peanuts – occurred in industrialized food supply chains that span national and even international boundaries,” the letter says.

“Farmers and processors who sell directly to consumers and end users have a direct relationship with their customers that ensures quality, safety, transparency and accountability. In addition, small-scale food producers are already regulated by local and state authorities, and the potential risk their products pose is inherently limited by their size.”

The letter specifically asks that the hazard and risk-based preventive controls not apply to small businesses whose adjusted gross income is less than $500,000 per year and that the produce standards not apply to farmers who primarily sell direct to consumers at farm stands and farmer’s markets.

“Food safety is a priority for us all,” said Judith McGeary, one of the drafters of the letter and president of the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance, “but the requirements of the Senate bill will impose significant expenses and burdens on small farmers and food processors that could well put them out of business. That ultimately hurts food safety, by depriving consumers of the choice to buy local, healthy fresh foods.”

"The Senate bill brings direct market farmers and small local processors under an onerous regulatory regime, when these small producers represent a viable alternative to industrialized foods, and also are regulated by long-standing local and state public health and agricultural laws, “ commented Jeanne Charter, of the Western Organization of Resource Councils one of the letter’s signatories. “When it comes to food safety, one size does not fit all." Both McGeary and Charter are direct market producers.

The letter and the signatories are posted at http://www.farmandranchfreedom.com/sites/farfa/files/Amend-S510-April-15.pdf

About the Farm and Ranch Freedom Organization: FARFA advocates for farmers, ranchers, and homesteaders through public education and lobbying to assure their independence in the production and marketing of their food, and to prevent the imposition of unnecessary regulatory burdens that are not in the public interest. FARFA also advocates for consumers’ access to information and resources to obtain healthy foods of their choice.

About The Western Organization of Resource Councils: WORC is a regional network of seven grassroots community organizations with 10,000 members and 45 local chapters. (North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho and Oregon)