Washington, D.C.-Yesterday, Congressman Heath Shuler (D-Waynesville) voted in support of the Food Safety Modernization Act, S. 510, which passed the House with bipartisan support. The bill received support from many small farmers and sustainable agriculture proponents, including the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, once an amendment offered by Senators Tester and Hagan was included. The Tester-Hagan amendment specifically exempts from new regulations small farmers who earn $500,000 or less in annual sales and sell the majority of their food directly to consumers or retailers within a 275-mile radius or within the same state.
"My support for this bill hinged on inclusion of the Hagan-Tester amendment which will protect many of Western North Carolina's small farmers from undue burdens and allow them to compete successfully," said Rep. Shuler. "This legislation is an effective way to enact food safety reform while protecting the small farmers that are so vital to Western North Carolina."
The most sweeping overhaul of our food safety system in 70 years, S. 510 gives the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded inspection and recall authority, improves traceability, and ensures all foreign food imports meet all U.S. food safety requirements. These regulations will better enable the FDA to prevent and address largely preventable food-borne illness outbreaks which kill 3,000 Americans and sicken 48 million every year.
In 2009, Rep. Shuler voted against H.R. 2749, food safety legislation similar to S.510, because it did not include adequate protections for small farmers. S.510, on the other hand, makes a clear distinction between large-scale agribusiness operations and small farmers selling directly to local consumers, restaurants, and retailers. The Food Safety Modernization Act was previously passed by the Senate and will now go to the President to be signed into law.
