This has hippies all up in arms because now they can't take a shit in their fields and sell it as "organic"
Seriously, HACCP is a FUCKING GOOD THING. It's law here in DK for the food industry. It forces anyone dealing with food to document that they are acting responsibly and nobody has gone out of business because of it, well some has, the ones that were shitty and didn't want to comply. I, as a consumer is safer and better off.
We also have something in DK called the SMILY (Yes, really) for restaurants and other businesses that sells anything edible. It's quite simple. Every business is inspected at random intervals, they have to document that they follow HACCP and some other health stuff, their equipment used to measure things like temps., fridges, thermometers, scales, etc.. are also tested. If they pass they get a happy smily sticker, if they don't they get a frowny smily sticker. If they get a frowny they get a month to comply and are inspected again. 3 frownies and their license is revoked permanently. Inspectors are relocated all over the country so no inspector is likely to take bribes.
The smily is a huge sticker that MUST be stuck on the wall in plain view of customers, even if it's a green frowny smily telling everyone HEY, THIS HERE IS A SHITHOLE. Sucks to get a frowny so there's very little chance of that happening. I can go out and eat anywhere and be assured that the place is good and clean.
On February 4, 2009 Representative Rose DeLauro (D-CT) introduced the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 HR 875 represents a tremendous expansion of federal power, particularly the power to regulate intrastate commerce. While the proposed legislation tries to address the many problems of the industrial food system, the impact on small farms if the bill becomes law would be substantial and not for the better. HR 875 is a major threat to sustainable farming and the local food movement. The bill would transfer the functions and resources of several divisions within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), such as the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) and the Center for Veterinary Medicine into FSA. The National Marine Fisheries Service in the Department of Commerce would be transferred over to FSA as well.
If such a regulation does in fact call for a HACCP plan (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point, ’Hass-sepp’), farmers will be required to do the following in developing a plan for their farming operation:
1. Conduct a hazard analysis (e.g., list the pathogens that could be present in the farming operation);
2. Determine the critical control points (e.g., identify points in the operation where pathogens would most likely be present or could be introduced);
3. Establish critical limits;
4. Establish monitoring procedures;
5. Establish corrective actions;
6. Establish verification procedures; and
7. Establish record-keeping and documentation procedures.
FSA’s rulemaking authority includes extensive power to regulate farming practices as well. HR 875 requires the agency to issue regulations that establish ”minimum standards related to fertilizer use, nutrients, hygiene, packaging, temperature controls, animal encroachment, and water” with respect to “growing, harvesting, sorting, and storage operations” [Section 206(c)(3)]; and, “with respect to animals raised for food”, the regulations are to establish “minimum standards related to the animal’s health, feed, and environment which bear on the safety of food for human consumption” [Section 206(c)(4)].
