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
FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
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
Episode 13: Food Safety Modernization Act
Episode 13 of the Food Rights Hour podcast is about the Food Safety Modernization Act that was signed into law on January 4, 2011. During this episode, our host, Dennis Crowley, and Michael Tabor, the lone farmer to testify last winter on Capitol Hill about the implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), discuss how FSMA may affect small sustainable farmers…
FSMA: Comment on FDA’s Proposed Food Safety Regulations by November 15 Deadline Action Alert
Food safety regulations proposed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pose significant problems for sustainable farmers, food producers, and food hubs across the country.
Under the proposed regulations, many farmers will be forced to comply with high-cost, industrial-scale regulations, and they will be unable to use traditional, sustainable growing practices. Food hubs and local food businesses will be forced to deal with costly and