New Food Safety Regulations
Sunday, January 21st, 2018 -- 8:04 AM
New food safety regulations are about the kick-in for the nation's fresh market fruit and vegetable growers.WisconsinAgConnection.com reports that starting January 26, growers with more than $500,000 in annual revenue will need to take part in certain trainings, test agricultural water and keep specific records on uses of manure as fertilizer. They will also be required to prevent crop contamination by domesticated and wild animals. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture says the new standards are part of the sweeping federal Food Safety Modernization Act. As part of the policy, smaller farms have another year or two years to comply with the same rules, depending on their size.
DATCP is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to implement the changes. FDA has emphasized that the 2018 focus is on outreach to farmers. A team from DATCP has been traveling throughout the state since last June to answer growers' questions at farm shows and conferences. The team will continue these efforts in 2018, and also work with outside organizations to provide mandatory training.
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