Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Public Hearing

Public hearing to help the FDA understand how the FSMA rules will impact small farms in New England and the growing sector of farmers markets, co-ops, and other local food venues.

August 20, 2013
9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Location
Alumni Hall, Hopkins Center for the Arts
Sponsored by
Rockefeller Center
Audience
Public
More information
Joanne Needham

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is a 2011 law to reform our nation’s food safety laws.  FSMA aims to ensure that the U.S. food supply is safe by shifting the focus from responding to contamination to preventing it.  The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for implementing the law and has proposed two rules to begin this implementation.  As drafted, the two rules may have far reaching impacts that could threaten small farms in New England and our growing sector of farmers markets, co-ops, and other local food venues. 

In order to help the FDA understand how these rules will impact New England, the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center and the New Hampshire and Vermont Departments of Agriculture, in collaboration with Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster ’78, will host a public input session so that the FDA can hear directly from farmers and consumers.  Combined with comments received during the ongoing public comment period, this input session will help FDA to refine and revise the proposals to ensure that the final rules promote food safety while protecting New England’s unique agricultural sector.

FDA participants include:

  • Michael Taylor, Deputy Commissioner for Foods & Veterinary Medicine
  • Samir Assar, Director of Produce Safety
  • Jenny Scott, Senior Advisor to the Director, Office of Food Safety

 

Open to the public. Continental breakfast to be served.

Location
Alumni Hall, Hopkins Center for the Arts
Sponsored by
Rockefeller Center
Audience
Public
More information
Joanne Needham