GROW - Newly proposed rules and regulations are at the center of discussion among Ohio’s and the nation’s farmers

  • by Jennifer Kneuss
  • March 14, 2013
  • 332
                        
Summary: The Food and Drug Administration is seeking to add rules and regulations as to how smaller farmers grow and handle their produce. Many questions remain, and the public is being asked to add their comments and concerns to the FDA. New Produce Safety and Preventative Controls for Human Food proposed regulations from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discussions are taking center stage lately among produce growers. “Growers never like additional regulations, but will have to adopt these practices, although I suspect most are following these practices now,” stated Chris Zoller, of Tuscarawas County OSU Extension. “Farmers growing the produce take pride in their business and want to produce food that is safe for everyone.” Recently, county presidents from the Ohio Farm Bureau had the opportunity to meet with FDA spokesmen. “We went to the FDA while in Washington, DC, and found that there are still many questions. The FDA is still working on defining what is called your saleable goods. It takes a mathematician and 2 lawyers to figure out who is affected by these proposals,” said Steve Quillen, Tuscarawas County’s Farm Bureau president. The lowest end of the scale for compliance would be ‘very small’ farms with $25,000 to $250,000 in gross sales per year. ‘Small farms’ are classified as $250,000 to $500,000 per year in gross sales. “What they are saying is that 35% of food-borne illnesses come from produce. This seems to be what spurs these proposals. They want to expand commercial growers’ regulations to become more intense. Some of the OFBF presidents expressed their concern, asking, “Why would a farmer looking to expand produce operations bother?” Yes, the produce needs to be protected, but at what cost? Why would anyone want to go into this business? As to the FDA inspections, they aren’t just coming in and checking equipment, but also walls, buildings and secondary structures.” “There are some common sense things that need to be done, with some regulation. One of the FDA staff suggested that you have a dirt strip around your crop, and if you see any (wildlife) tracks, you have to go in that day and cut out that part of your crop and dispose of it,” he added. “There has to be a balanced approach to this.” The proposed regulations address identified routes of microbial contamination: agricultural water; biological soil amendment of animal origin; worker health and hygiene; equipment, tools, buildings, and sanitation; and domesticated and wild animals (including Amish work horses). Growing/harvesting/packing and holding activities are also included. Lane Oswald, a Preble County, OH produce grower and trustee of the Ohio Farm Bureau, recently testified before the FDA in Chicago. “Also, of utmost importance, is the need to consider the economic burdens new regulation places on all growers,” stated Oswald. “We emphasize the need to balance additional burdens with actual positive food safety impacts. Spending millions in compliance and enforcement to achieve little or no effect is unreasonable. Consider Ohio and many other states are disadvantaged by a shorter growing season over which to spread new costs of compliance. Further, all regulation must be based on food safety research demonstrating positive results. Economic viability, minimal burden, and proven impact to all industry structures, of all sizes and types, must be ensured.” Oswald also noted the potential negative effect on those who farm with work horses, and also expressed concern that “enforcement should be facilitated at the state level through existing food safety agencies to eliminate redundancy.” The newly proposed FDA regulations can be found at www.fda.gov/fsma. Currently, growers and the general public are encouraged to provide public comment and input before May 16, 2013 at FSMA@fda.hhs.gov or by mail: The US Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20993 Phone: 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332)


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