CALL TO ACTION: Protect Small Farms from Proposed Safety Rules
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the USDA is drafting new meat testing regulations for small processors. It appears the new regulations will require before and after microbial testing and procedures that will be costly for state- and federally-inspected meat processors. The concern is these heavy-handed regulations may force small meat processors to reduce the number of products they offer, increase prices for processing, discontinue processing under inspection, or worse, shut down altogether.
"As drafted, these new regulations I believe will drive small meat processors out of business. Many will not be able to manage the financial or administrative burdens the new regulation will require. As a result, if these rules are put in place farmers' options will be further limited." - Mike Lorentz, Lorentz Meats, Cannon Falls, Minn.
According to the American Association of Meat Processors, the initial cost could be as much as $12,000 per product line and then $3,600 a year to maintain. Under these new rules, if a small meat processor offers 10 types of meat products (bacon, ham, jerky etc. ...), it could cost nearly $120,000 in testing and validation. For more on this issue, see the April 9 Des Moines Register article, "Meat Processors Worried Over Proposed Safety Rules."
Edibles Advocate Alliance's position:
Many livestock farmers rely on small meat processors in order to help get their product to market as well as add value to their meat products. We recognize that small and mid-sized farmers like John Morosani, butchers, and meat processors are key partners in making local and regional food systems work.
We have no reason to believe that these new rules will make meat products any safer, especially when you consider the majority of food-borne illness in meat products come from the giant corporate meatpackers like Smithfield, Tyson and JBS.
What we do believe is that the new regulations could hurt family farmers who rely on local butchers and small meat processors. Local and regional food systems are growing and the last thing we need is new USDA regulations that will place roadblocks or result in higher costs for all parties involved in selling butchered or processed livestock.
Will you stand with us?
We do not believe that ONE SIZE FITS ALL.
We believe in food safety. We believe that the US Department of Agriculture has the right intent in proposing new rules to ensure that meat lockers are keeping dangerous bacteria out of our food products. We believe that the USDA and the Department of Agriculture should continue in their efforts to protect consumers, BUT . . .
We believe that these proposed rules open a wide gap for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations and other Agribusiness Lobbyists to succeed in crushing small-scale farms, producers, and businesses.
We believe in fairness.
We believe in supporting local and sustainable food systems.
We believe in supporting our local farmers, small businesses, and producers.
The Agribusiness Lobbyists who dominate the food industry may have a lot more money - many more strategically elected "friends" - but WE are a tenacious, passionate, and resolute people.
We will refuse to let our small farms suffer by EASY, one-size-fits-all regulations without our voices being heard.
Protect consumers. Protect our farms, our local processors, and our neighborhood producers.
WE BELIEVE that the right legislation can accomplish BOTH.
TAKE ACTION!
-
-
Call USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack at 202-720-3631 He needs to know how these proposed rules could negatively impact local and regional food systems and family farmers. These new guidelines run
absolutely counter to the
"Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" campaign USDA had been trumpeting.
-
Submit comments. USDA is accepting comments on the new rules through June 19, 2010. Farmers are encouraged to submit comments on the draft validation compliance guide. Below are two ways to send comments, as well as a sample comment you can make:
- Docket Clerk USDA
FSIS, Room 2-2127
5601 Sunnyside Avenue
Beltsville, MD 20705