Story about new Organic Farming laws

[reinbeau]

It's the regulation of all foodstuffs, no matter where they're produced that's the problem. No, you can't point specifically to home grown, that's carefully written around. Read the text to see what I mean. There are no exemptions, I saw a phrase about small farmers once, and yes, I have read the bill. Totally. All 117 pages. Sections 202 and 401 are the pertinent ones, for your purposes.

 

[me&thegals]

Reinbeau--Would you mind providing a link to the bill? I have Googled it, and every link to the text is not working at all for me... Maybe overloaded today?

Thanks--me&thegals

 

[patandchickens]

It's the regulation of all foodstuffs

What is the definition of "foodstuffs". I don't mean the conventional definition, I mean how it is legally treated -- either it is defined in the bill or it uses some existing legal or governmental definition.

Just because you think the term should include homegrown non commercially traded foods doesn't mean it *necssarily* does.

All 117 pages. Sections 202 and 401 are the pertinent ones, for your purposes.

OK, thank you, that helps (no way can I read 117 pp on dialup with small children around). I will look.

Thanks,

Pat

 

[reinbeau]

Reinbeau--Would you mind providing a link to the bill? I have Googled it, and every link to the text is not working at all for me... Maybe overloaded today?

Thanks--me&thegals

From post #12 in this thread, click the link that says "full text".

Pat, Foodstuffs is my word for all things edible. That term probably isn't in the text, I could do a search (I downloaded the pdf) but it's not that important.

 

[Big Daddy]

A few people have stated how easy the bill is to read. The bill itself is not that easy to read. It's easy if all you read is what other people say it means.Those people usually have an agenda and want you to believe whatever they are pushing.

It sounds like it is directed towards large production facilities. They will have an inspector on sight during all production runs to ensure the quality of what we consume. Obviously they are not going to have an inspector at your house while you kill a few or even a hundred birds. So the question is how will they control small production?

For those of you that run small operations selling processed birds on a small scale. What are the current regulations. Is there any risk of selling bad meat or eggs? If you did and the recipient was able to prove it came from you, what do you do to protect yourself against costly litigation for your liability? If someone you sold a bad product to died they could take everything you own. Does your homeowners policy cover that? Just wondering, not trying to cause trouble.

 

[Tallman]

Actual wording from the bill.


(14) FOOD PRODUCTION FACILITY- The term food production facility means any farm, ranch, orchard, vineyard, aquaculture facility, or confined animal-feeding operation.

SEC. 206. FOOD PRODUCTION FACILITIES.

(a) Authorities- In carrying out the duties of the Administrator and the purposes of this Act, the Administrator shall have the authority, with respect to food production facilities, to--

(1) visit and inspect food production facilities in the United States and in foreign countries to determine if they are operating in compliance with the requirements of the food safety law;

(2) review food safety records as required to be kept by the Administrator under section 210 and for other food safety purposes;

(3) set good practice standards to protect the public and animal health and promote food safety;

(4) conduct monitoring and surveillance of animals, plants, products, or the environment, as appropriate; and

(5) collect and maintain information relevant to public health and farm practices.
(c) Regulations- Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture and representatives of State departments of agriculture, shall promulgate regulations to establish science-based minimum standards for the safe production of food by food production facilities. Such regulations shall--

(1) consider all relevant hazards, including those occurring naturally, and those that may be unintentionally or intentionally introduced;

(2) require each food production facility to have a written food safety plan that describes the likely hazards and preventive controls implemented to address those hazards;

(3) include, with respect to growing, harvesting, sorting, and storage operations, minimum standards related to fertilizer use, nutrients, hygiene, packaging, temperature controls, animal encroachment, and water;

(4) include, with respect to animals raised for food, minimum standards related to the animals health, feed, and environment which bear on the safety of food for human consumption;

 

[reinbeau]

Big Daddy, where is the exemption for 'small operations'. There aren't any. If you found them in your reading, please tell me what page they are on.

Tallman, I saw that. Pretty all-emcompassing.

 

[Big Daddy]

Big Daddy, here is the exemption for 'small operations'. There aren't any. If you found them in your reading, please tell me what page they are on.
.

Thank you for answering my unasked and un-thought of question. I remember seeing an exemption when Conrad was explaining the bill. There was a line giving a specific number of carcasses.

I would like an answer to the questions I asked above. We would like to sell Turkey and the above questions have always bothered me.

 

[sylvie]

Something else that is going on, not related directly to this bill but the players are lining up; there is a virtual craze of patenting everything.
All the seeds and plants are being patented. This is changing how growers, wholesalers and retailers will be able to operate. Originally seeds were bought, sown and the plants sold through retail or wholesale. Soon, because of the patents businesses must buy cuttings or plants, with the self sown seed end of it being phased out. I don't know the target date of this switch over but I think small home gardeners will be facing the same dilemma down the road. It will assuredly raise prices because the profit realized from sowing seeds will be eliminated.
I know this doesn't apply to field crops like corn, wheat and soy, mainly annuals and perennials and small businesses that grow from seed and sell plants.

 

[reinbeau]

Big Daddy, here is the exemption for 'small operations'. There aren't any. If you found them in your reading, please tell me what page they are on.
.

Thank you for answering my unasked and un-thought of question. I remember seeing an exemption when Conrad was explaining the bill. There was a line giving a specific number of carcasses.

I would like an answer to the questions I asked above. We would like to sell Turkey and the above questions have always bothered me.

My quote isn't right, I said Where - not Here. Where are the exemptions? Have you read it?

Yes, Sylvie, you're right, and I don't think all this patenting of currently living beings should be allowed. That's how Monsanto is maneuvering to take over as much of the food supply as they can, via patents. Ridiculous.