The Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance led a coalition that we were a part of in 2010, which convinced Congress to exempt small, direct-marketing farmers from the new rules under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). But now that the rules are being implemented by the states, the Texas…
FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
FSMA Deadlines: Are You a “Food Facility”?
After nearly a decade of congressional debates, regulatory wrangling, and implementation delays, the deadline for compliance of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is now approaching. Thanks to organizations (like FTCLDF!) working for small farmers, artisan producers, and local food consumers, most small-scale producers are exempt from…
Reclaiming Our Traditional Foodways
For the majority of this country’s history, unregulated farmer-to-consumer direct commerce was the norm in most of the United States. Consumers could even purchase meat, a food heavily regulated today, from farmers that were not
Rule on Key FSMA Definition Final
On July 14, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a final rule amending federal regulations on the registration of food facilities with FDA. The final rule, which went into effect September 12, includes an
FDA Taking Over State Food Regulation
In FDA’s words, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) “directs FDA to build an integrated national food safety system in partnership with state and local authorities explicitly recognizing that all food safety agencies need
Who Makes Law in Virginia? FDA
On February 1, the Virginia House Agriculture Sub-Committee quietly killed an amended version of the Virginia Food Freedom Act (HB 619) by tabling the bill during a subcommittee hearing. The amended version of HB 619 would have
Food Rights Updates: CT Raw Milk, ME Food Sovereignty & FDA Oversight in TX
Connecticut Herdshare Bill Now Law: Connecticut became the sixth state to pass legislation increasing access to raw milk in 2015 when Governor Dannel Malloy signed Senate Bill 360 (SB 360) into law on June 23rd. The bill legalizes the “transfer or exchange of raw milk between persons…
Key FSMA Deadline Approaching: Artisans at Risk
June 8 is the last day to comment on the “Registration of Food Facilities” rules proposed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The most important provision for small farmers and artisan food producers is a proposed change to the definition of
FSMA: The Threat to Raw Milk
Even though the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t carried out or threatened an enforcement action against raw milk producers for several years, FDA remains the most anti-raw milk government agency in the country. In 2010 Congress, greatly expanded FDA’s power with the passage of the
Farm Bill Victories Worth Celebrating
It’s official, the Agricultural Act of 2014 (a.k.a. the Farm Bill – HR 2642; now Public Law 113-79) was signed into law on February 7, 2014 after more than two years of congressional debate. Not surprisingly, the bulk of the Farm Bill continues the same programs that favor large-scale, chemical-intensive, mono-cropping and commodity agriculture; however, there there is also some good news.
There are gains on these specific issues raised in various