This was brought to my attention by one of our members today and I agree with her that this is a concern.
Click here to read the bill that is currently being reviewed by a committee in Congress. While on the surface it sounds great, the impact on local food systems could be devastating. The expense, regulation and paperwork would likely put our small-time, local producers and distributors out of business. Not only that, but it appears that it would apply to backyard farmers as well by defining a "Food Production Facility" as:
(14) FOOD PRODUCTION FACILITY- The term ‘food production facility’ means any farm, ranch, orchard, vineyard, aquaculture facility, or confined animal-feeding operation.
And check out paragraphs 5 - 9 of the Definitions. These tiered definitions of a "Food Establishment" basically covers ANYONE who handles food of any kind, whether it is to be eaten by human or animal.
Has anybody else heard about this? What are your thoughts?
