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Hagan urges FDA to protect small farmers from excessive regulations
Story Date: 12/4/2013
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Source: PRESS RELEASE, 12/3/13
U.S. Senator Kay Hagan is calling on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure small farmers are treated fairly in new food safety regulations.
Hagan and Senator Jon Tester (MT) included an amendment in 2010’s Food Safety Modernization Act that protects small farmers from excessive regulations. However, new rules proposed by the FDA left a number of terms inadequately defined when determining whether a farm qualifies for small operations food safety requirements.
“Agriculture is the largest industry in North Carolina, and I am committed to ensuring that family farms selling at farmers’ markets and local co-ops are not burdened by regulations that are designed for large producers,” said Hagan. “One size does not fit all, and the FDA must follow through and ensure that final rules do not unnecessarily threaten the livelihood of local farmers and hurt economic growth.”
In a letter to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, Hagan and Tester wrote, “It is essential to create separate, modified requirements for small farms and larger farms and processors: one size does not fit all. We urge you to rectify the rules to ensure that small farms, farmers’ markets, and local cooperatives are able to thrive while protecting food safety from the biggest threats.”
Hagan and Tester’s amendment clarified that family farmers and smaller producers would continue to be overseen by local and state food safety and health agencies.
Agriculture is North Carolina's largest industry, generating $77 billion in economic activity and employing nearly one-fifth of the state's workforce.
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