US: Fix the food safety modernization act round 2

In September, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released reproposed sections of major new food safety regulations that were originally proposed in January 2013. The rules are part of FDA’s implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which was signed into law in 2011. The goal of FSMA is to focus food safety measures on prevention, rather than emergency response. It does so by updating and expanding rules that govern the growing and handling of fresh produce and the processing of many types of food. FDA’s first draft of FSMA rules unfairly burdened the local and regional food businesses and farmers that have been the driving force behind the exponential growth of farmers markets across the U.S.

This second round of proposed rules came in response to the food and farming community’s active participation in the FDA’s public comment period last fall. Many of the comments and asks of FMC members are reflected in this new draft of the regulations, but there is still plenty of work to be done. Despite improvements, the updated set of rules continues to overburden and discourage diversified, direct-marketing farmers and markets.

Once again, we have the opportunity to bring these concerns directly to the FDA through a public comment period. Now is our chance to shape the rules before they become law. The comment period closes on December 15th. Click here for step-by-step instructions on how to comment.

FMC has worked with the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) to review and analyse the two sections of FSMA rules: Standards for produce production (Produce Rule), and food safety measures for facilities that process food for human consumption (Preventive Controls Rule).

FMC’s major concerns with the original proposed rules still apply: the delay in clarifying whether farmers markets are subject to the Preventive Controls Rule; the rules’ unclear definition of farms and facilities; the over-regulation of low-risk processed foods; the unclear and subjective nature of exemptions for small farms; and the excessive costs that local farmers will incur in order to adhere to new regulations. Click on the table below or read on to see what changed since the original proposed rules, and what we must ask FDA to change in order to ensure fairness for farm-direct businesses and farmers markets.

Click here to read the complete article at farmersmarketcoalition.org.