Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance Comments on Passage of Senate Food Safety Bill

ANNAPOLIS, MD (November 30, 2010) – Today the U.S. Senate passed legislation to make strengthen the food safety authority of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance offers the following comments on the passage of the bill.

“Today’s passage of the Senate food safety bill appears to be a step in the right direction towards ensuring food safety for consumers, while addressing the needs of small farmers and those who sell directly to consumers.  The bill provides for uniformity in food safety provisions and important emergency traceback authority to quickly protect consumers, farmers and food businesses. MDA and Maryland farmers are well positioned for elements of the Senate bill as MDA worked with FDA to develop its GAP audit program, has funding to help farmers with the cost of compliance, is running training programs beginning in January, and offers one-on-one assistance to help farmers write plans.

The bill also make states eligible to apply for capacity-building grants, which includes the opportunity for MDA to apply for grants to modernize the State poultry laboratory and improve the valuable services it provides. Additionally, there are provisions for funding to improve the MDA State Chemist Laboratory, which is authorized as a Federal Emergency Response Network facility for its urgent response capabilities and scientific expertise. We sincerely hope that any final bill will include funding for any new programmatic and staffing requirements.  We thank Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin for their support and believe the bill will help address needs of small farmers and improve capacity building for our State over the long term.”

# # #

Follow MDA on Twitter @MdAgDept.