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<div class=Section1>
<blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid black 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt;
margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:blue'>FYI -- From Doug Walton at the Kerr
Center for Sustainable Agriculture on HR 875 … excellent analysis.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Hi
all,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>I've
had several recent queries about a current bill within the U.S. House, so
I've done some digging to try and get up to speed while hopefully shedding some
mostly objective light on the matter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>From
reading through HR 875 - The Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009, <a
href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.875.IH">http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.875.IH</a>:,
and reading many other comments and commentary about it, a big concern with the
bill is its one-size-fits-all approach to regulating food safety... especially
for dairies selling raw milk products, meat producers who process at the farm,
and other small-scale food processors, <a
href="http://www.ftcldf.org/news/news-02mar2009.htm"><span style='color:#810081'>http://www.ftcldf.org/news/news-02mar2009.htm</span></a>.
But, there would also be inspection and other requirements for all farms.<br>
<br>
HR 875 does not ban organic farming, as has been reported through
several postings and blogs, but its language is quite broad regarding
"preventive process controls to reduce adulteration of food."
Some opponents fear that this could mean that organic growers will be made to
spray / use chemicals to prevent foodborne contaminants on or in their
crops. My sense is that this is unlikely, given that synthetic chemicals
are banned by federal law for use by certified organic growers. How it
could affect growers who aren't certified org. is less clear. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>This
bill putting an end to farmers' markets, which has also been claimed,
seems unlikely as well. But, the legislation does include
provisions which could place undo burdens on small growers regarding assessment
of food safety hazards within their operations, especially for diversified
growers with livestock and crop production.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Another
concern with HR 875 is its heavy emphasis on microbial contamination, to
the exclusion of any other potential food safety or
contamination issue, or any practice that might be considered
improper or excessive -- such as pesticide over- or mis-usage.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><br>
Some suggested provisions with this or any other comprehensive food safety
bill include making exceptions and allowances for small-scale diversified farms
and market garden operations, who'd likely incur a significant burden by having
to comply with regulations which should be intended for reducing foodborne
threats from an industrial food system. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>For
an excellent summary and background on HR 875, from a group who pays close
attention to food safety and industrial ag, I recommend reading through this
piece, <a
href="http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/food/foodsafety/background-on-h-r-875">http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/food/foodsafety/background-on-h-r-875</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The
Organic Consumers Association also has some helpful info about the bill here, <a
href="http://capwiz.com/grassrootsnetroots/issues/alert/?alertid=12878056">http://capwiz.com/grassrootsnetroots/issues/alert/?alertid=12878056</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>There
are also a few other food safety bills in congress at this time. Check here, <a
href="http://www.lavidalocavore.org/showDiary.do?diaryId=1147"><span
style='color:#810081'>http://www.lavidalocavore.org/showDiary.do?diaryId=1147</span></a>
for a locavore's perspective and more info about them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:9.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>And lastly, for some insightful perspectives
on food safety hazard analysis and GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) from a
couple organic / sustainable grower organizations, see this page and those
it links to, <a href="http://www.nofa.org/policy/safety.php">http://www.nofa.org/policy/safety.php</a><br>
<br>
Doug<br>
<br>
<br>
</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Doug Walton<br>
Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture<br>
PO Box 588<br>
Poteau, OK 74953<br>
</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a
href="http://www.kerrcenter.com/"><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:#810081'>www.kerrcenter.com</span></a><br>
<a href="http://www.buyfreshbuylocalok.com/"><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>www.BuyFreshBuyLocalOK.com</span></a><br>
<a href="mailto:doug.walton@suddenlink.net"><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>doug.walton@suddenlink.net</span></a><br>
</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>918-686-6939
work/home</span><span style='color:white'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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