N.C. Senator Backs Exemptions For Small Food Producers
June 8, 2010 | 1 min to read
ASHEVILLE — A North Carolina senator has signed on to amendments designed to protect small farmers and food producers from added costs that could come from the government's new food safety law.
Sen. Kay Hagan said she's co-sponsoring two amendments with Sen. Jon Tester, of Montana, that would exempt facilities with gross income of less than $500,000 from some of the performance and record-keeping requirements in the federal Food Safety Modernization Act.
The amendments would also exempt small producers that primarily sell directly to restaurants and consumers from some parts of the proposed regulations.
The bill could be considered soon in the Senate.
It has drawn fire from local food advocates in Western North Carolina because of the potential to drive some small producers out of business with added costs and inspections.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Ashville Citizens-Times.