Food Safety Modernization Act Includes Victories for Sustainable Agriculture

Your Food Safety Calls Made the Difference

The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee unanimously approved a revised version of S. 510, the Food Safety Modernization Act last Wednesday.  The many calls received by HELP committee members moved the concerns of family farm value added, sustainable and organic farmers to the forefront of the Committee discussion.  While there is still work to be done to clarify the kinds of farms that must register with FDA, the bill voted out of Committee includes a number of substantial victories.

The fresh produce section of the bill requires FDA to coordinate with USDA and the National Organic Program and to create rules that:

•    are flexible and appropriate to the scale and diversity of the farm,
•    take into consideration conservation and environmental standards established federal conservation, wildlife, and environmental agencies,
•    not include requirements that conflict or duplicate organic standards,
•    prioritize for implementation rules for crops that have been associated with foodborne illness

In the traceability section, the bill limits recordkeeping requirements for produce farms without processing facilities to information about the initial sale to the first purchaser of the crop.

Senators who were supportive of the concerns of family farm value added producers included Harkin (IA), Enzi (WY), Bennet (CO), Bingaman (NM), Brown (OH), Burr (NC), Franken (MN), Merkley (OR), Hagen (NC),  Dodd (CT),  Gregg (NH),  Murray (WA) and Sanders (VT).  Please call them and thank them for their leadership. You can reach their offices by calling the capitol switchboard (202) 224-3121. A switchboard operator will connect you directly with the Senate office you request.

There is still work to be done on S. 510.  A number of other NSAC proposals were not included in the bill.  We will continue to push for a narrowing of the definition of a  farm “facility” to exempt farms doing value-added processing of low-risk foods and for a national training program for farms and small processors.

Senate floor action is considered likely early next calendar year, although there is a possibility it could reach the floor in December.  The House has already passed its companion bill, so once the full Senate takes action the House and Senate will conference to work out the wide ranging differences between the two.

For more information on S.510 – The Food Safety Modernization Act and how you can help protect small family farms and sustainable agriculture, check out the Carolina Farm Stewards Association’s Action Alert