Committee urges USDA to support unified food-safety standards
Committee urges USDA to support unified food-safety standards
WASHINGTON -- Produce trade associations have called for federal food safety oversight, and now the Fruit & Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee approved a new resolution that calls on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to advocate for unified food-safety standards.
The 25-member advisory committee agreed on two resolutions at its June 4-5 meeting that will be presented to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns. Created in 2001, the committee recommends ways that USDA can tailor its programs to meet the needs of the fruit and vegetable industry. The group recommended that USDA "facilitate and advocate the development and adoption of unified food-safety standards for the fruit and vegetable industry that reflect the risks associated with individual commodities and the entire supply chain."
Congress is very interested in revamping the food-safety system, and U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) is drafting legislation that would create a new federal framework targeted at fresh produce.
"Majority staff of the Senate Agriculture Committee is working with the produce industry and food-safety advocates on legislation that will provide a national regulatory framework for reducing foodborne illness caused by produce," said a spokesperson for the Senate Agriculture Committee. "The bill is in the draft stages now, and we hope to introduce something before the August recess."
This also comes as the California Senate approved three bills June 6 that would change how the produce industry does business in that state as a result of the 2006 E. coli outbreak associated with spinach. The bills would create a new on-farm inspection program, mandate Good Agricultural Practices for processors of leafy greens and create a new traceback program. The second resolution focused on the current farm bill debate, praising Mr. Johanns for his strong support for specialty crops in USDA's 2007 farm bill proposal.
"Recognizing the significant contributions the specialty crop industry makes to the American diet, U.S. agriculture and the economies of the states in which they are produced, the Fruit & Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee believes fruit and vegetable growers should receive equitable treatment in federal farm programs," the resolution read.
The industry committee called on USDA to support the EAT Healthy America Act (H.R. 1600) and the Specialty Crops Competition Act of 2007 (S. 1160), which provide "needed assistance to fruit and vegetable producers in critical areas such as conservation, international trade, pests and disease, nutrition, research, block grants to states, and renewable energy."
But the advisory committee called on USDA to change direction on another farm bill policy. USDA should reconsider its position that favors eliminating the fruit and vegetable planting restriction on program crop acres, said the resolution.
"The removal of this important provision would place unsubsidized fruit and vegetable producers at a competitive disadvantage to subsidized program crop producers," said the committee.
Also at the meeting, the group heard from Jeffrey Grode of U.S. Customs & Border Inspection about the status of the agency's pest-prevention activities at the border. He said that staffing has improved in ports of entry, as have inspector training and coordination with USDA on agriculture duties.
There are four bills in the House and Senate that would transfer agriculture inspections from Customs and back to USDA, he said.
Kathy Staley of USDA's Fresh Products Branch told the group about food- safety activities at the Agriculture Marketing Service. In July, all fresh product vendors for USDA will be required to adhere to a GAP/GHP and food-defense audit within 10 days before shipment, she said in a prepared presentation. The group heard other presentations on the federal food stamp program and bioterrorism activities.
USDA has agreed to renew the two-year charter and will be asking for nominations for a new panel in the coming weeks.
The 25-member advisory committee agreed on two resolutions at its June 4-5 meeting that will be presented to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns. Created in 2001, the committee recommends ways that USDA can tailor its programs to meet the needs of the fruit and vegetable industry. The group recommended that USDA "facilitate and advocate the development and adoption of unified food-safety standards for the fruit and vegetable industry that reflect the risks associated with individual commodities and the entire supply chain."
Congress is very interested in revamping the food-safety system, and U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) is drafting legislation that would create a new federal framework targeted at fresh produce.
"Majority staff of the Senate Agriculture Committee is working with the produce industry and food-safety advocates on legislation that will provide a national regulatory framework for reducing foodborne illness caused by produce," said a spokesperson for the Senate Agriculture Committee. "The bill is in the draft stages now, and we hope to introduce something before the August recess."
This also comes as the California Senate approved three bills June 6 that would change how the produce industry does business in that state as a result of the 2006 E. coli outbreak associated with spinach. The bills would create a new on-farm inspection program, mandate Good Agricultural Practices for processors of leafy greens and create a new traceback program. The second resolution focused on the current farm bill debate, praising Mr. Johanns for his strong support for specialty crops in USDA's 2007 farm bill proposal.
"Recognizing the significant contributions the specialty crop industry makes to the American diet, U.S. agriculture and the economies of the states in which they are produced, the Fruit & Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee believes fruit and vegetable growers should receive equitable treatment in federal farm programs," the resolution read.
The industry committee called on USDA to support the EAT Healthy America Act (H.R. 1600) and the Specialty Crops Competition Act of 2007 (S. 1160), which provide "needed assistance to fruit and vegetable producers in critical areas such as conservation, international trade, pests and disease, nutrition, research, block grants to states, and renewable energy."
But the advisory committee called on USDA to change direction on another farm bill policy. USDA should reconsider its position that favors eliminating the fruit and vegetable planting restriction on program crop acres, said the resolution.
"The removal of this important provision would place unsubsidized fruit and vegetable producers at a competitive disadvantage to subsidized program crop producers," said the committee.
Also at the meeting, the group heard from Jeffrey Grode of U.S. Customs & Border Inspection about the status of the agency's pest-prevention activities at the border. He said that staffing has improved in ports of entry, as have inspector training and coordination with USDA on agriculture duties.
There are four bills in the House and Senate that would transfer agriculture inspections from Customs and back to USDA, he said.
Kathy Staley of USDA's Fresh Products Branch told the group about food- safety activities at the Agriculture Marketing Service. In July, all fresh product vendors for USDA will be required to adhere to a GAP/GHP and food-defense audit within 10 days before shipment, she said in a prepared presentation. The group heard other presentations on the federal food stamp program and bioterrorism activities.
USDA has agreed to renew the two-year charter and will be asking for nominations for a new panel in the coming weeks.
