Letter to FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg - FDA Food Safety Modernization Act

Letter

Today Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urging them to consider the unique challenges facing small and family-owned farms when implementing the rules and regulations associated with the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act.

"As a member of Congress representing a number of small and family-owned farms in Carroll, Frederick, and Montgomery counties in Maryland, I've heard from many individuals who believe the proposed rules will be overly burdensome and negatively affect their businesses," Van Hollen wrote. "I appreciate your attention to this issue and look forward to working with you to protect the health of all Americans without compromising the ability of small farmers to make safe, local, and diverse products available to consumers."

The full text of the letter is below.

April 18, 2013

Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D.

Commissioner

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

10903 New Hampshire Avenue

Silver Spring, MD 20993

Dear Commissioner Hamburg:

As you develop regulations to implement the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, I urge you to consider the unique challenges facing small and family-owned farms, and take the necessary steps to ensure that the final rules are flexible and achievable for these operations.

Throughout my career, I have advocated for initiatives to improve the safety of our nation's food supply, and I supported the passage of the bipartisan FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. The law sought to increase accountability throughout the food system but rejected a "one-size fits-all" approach, acknowledging small farm interests and recognizing the important role they play in local and regional economies, and in providing fresh and healthy produce to our communities.

As a member of Congress representing a number of small and family-owned farms in Carroll, Frederick, and Montgomery counties in Maryland, I've heard from many individuals who believe the proposed rules will be overly burdensome and negatively affect their businesses. Their concerns include the lack of clarity about why some crops but not others would be covered by the rule; new standards for growing (including wildlife controls); and unnecessary recordkeeping requirements.

I appreciate your attention to this issue and look forward to working with you to protect the health of all Americans without compromising the ability of small farmers to make safe, local, and diverse products available to consumers.

Sincerely,

Chris Van Hollen

Member of Congress

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