Posted on 07/16/2009 3:23:23 PM PDT by FromLori
WASHINGTON -- Legislation to overhaul the nation's food-safety system has spurred a backlash from livestock and grain farmers who don't want the Food and Drug Administration inspecting farms.
The legislation, approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee last month, aims to give the FDA more money and authority to police food safety, and technically doesn't apply to foods the agency doesn't regulate: meat, poultry and some egg products, which are regulated by the Department of Agriculture.
But livestock and grain farmers say the legislation isn't written clearly enough, and they gave lawmakers and regulators an earful Thursday at a House Agriculture Committee hearing.
"Live animals are not 'food' until the point of processing, which is why this bill needs to clarify that the FDA does not have regulatory authority on our farms, ranches and feedlots," said Sam Ives, a veterinarian who spoke for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.
Larry Wooten, president of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, said the bill would give the FDA power that overlaps with the USDA. "FDA doesn't have the personnel, funding, knowledge, expertise or time to regulate agriculture production practices," he told lawmakers.
The bill's main sponsor, Rep. John Dingell (D., Mich.), doesn't seek to include livestock and other farms under the Energy and Commerce Committee's jurisdiction, said Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D., Minn.). The Energy and Commerce Committee oversees the FDA.
Mr. Petersen said he will meet with Mr. Dingell and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D., Calif.) to press for further clarification to exclude livestock and grain farms. If not successful, he said, he will hold hearings to stop the legislation from going to the House
"We are a little skeptical of FDA," Mr. Peterson said outside of the hearing room Thursday. "We are very concerned about them getting involved
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Related
http://aahf.nonprofitsoapbox.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=825&Itemid=
http://hotair.com/archives/2009/03/31/video-does-hr875-really-mean-the-end-of-small-farms/
Ping
We need to isolate the middle states and stop selling the liberals food.....
lol I like it !!!
Want medical? Want food? Then do what we say, you filthy little peons.
By the way, turn in your firearms. Now. Do what we say.
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