Why this hasn’t been done with the information presented is beyond my understanding, but then I am just “Jane Average” out here.

Once an “all encompassing” Bill is passed into Law it becomes difficult to change the Language presented – therefore just include the exclusion, look like the “good guys” and go forward.

After all – who are the Legislators looking out for if not the American Citizens?

Everyone should be suspicious of any group like “Food and Water Watch”, we don’t know who started those organizations, or who funds them, or who could have infultrated into them.

Greenpeace is the only organization that I trust at this point, the rest can prove themselves to the public for all I am concerned.

Lets just put it this way, some power hungery company like Monsanto tries to take our rights away in growing our own food, there will be an uprising so big, so powerful, and so against that evil company, they will be lucky if they are still considered a viable force in the food industry.

And it will be like that, I know too many people, and all are against Monsanto. The word is getting around fast, along with fluoridation, aspartame (Monsanto poison), etc….People know what is going on!

I’ve done my best with 875 on my blog (http://www.robertsroostecofarm.com/2009/03/food-safety-modernization-act-another.html) here and several other posts. HR 759 is still in process. There doesn’t seem to be much effort on this one. Think the Trojan Horse is working.

Also, it kinda bothers me that Food and Water Watch are backers of HR 875; anyone have reason to be suspicious of that group?

Here is the text of that section.

SEC. 104. SAFETY STANDARDS FOR FRESH PRODUCE.

(a) PROHIBITED ACT.—Section 301 (21 U.S.C. 331), as amended by sections 102 and 103, is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘(pp) The production or harvesting of produce not in accordance with minimum standards as provided by regulation under section 419A(a) or a variance issued under section 419A(e).’’.

(b) STANDARDS.—Chapter IV (21 U.S.C. 341 et seq.), as amended by sections 102 and 103, is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘SEC. 419A. STANDARDS FOR PRODUCE SAFETY.

‘‘(a) STANDARDS.—The Secretary shall establish by regulation science-based minimum standards for the safe production and harvesting of those types of fruits and vegetables that are raw agricultural commodities for which the Secretary has determined that such standards minimize the risk of serious adverse health consequences or death.

‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—The regulations under subsection

(a)—‘‘(1) shall set forth such procedures, processes, and practices as the Secretary determines to be reasonably necessary—‘‘(A) to prevent the introduction of known or reasonably foreseeable biological, chemical,

12 and physical hazards, including hazards that

13 occur naturally, may be unintentionally intro14

duced, or may be intentionally introduced, in15

cluding by acts of terrorism, into fruits and

16 vegetables that are raw agricultural commod17

ities; and ‘‘(B) to provide reasonable assurances that the produce is not adulterated under section 402;

‘‘(2) shall include, with respect to growing, harvesting, packing, sorting, and storage operations, minimum standards for safety;

‘‘(3) shall include standards addressing manure use, water quality, employee hygiene, sanitation and animal control, temperature controls, and nutrients; ‘‘(4) may include standards for such other elements as the Secretary determines necessary to carry out subsection (a);

‘‘(5) shall provide a reasonable period of time for compliance, taking into account the needs of small businesses for additional time to comply; and ‘‘(6) shall provide for coordination of education and enforcement activities by State and local officials, as designated by the Governors of the respective States.

‘‘(c) PRIORITIZATION.—The Secretary shall prioritize the implementation the regulations under subsection (a) for specific fruits and vegetables that are raw agricultural commodities and have been associated with food-borne illness outbreaks. ‘‘(d) ENFORCEMENT.—The Secretary may coordinate with the Secretary of Agriculture and shall contract and coordinate with the agency or department designated by the Governor of each State to perform activities to ensure compliance with this section.’’.

I’ll keep working my way through this as best I can and as time allows. I’d appreciate feedback from others who have looked at it from a small farm perspective.