2017 -- S 0919

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LC002775

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE RHODE ISLAND CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION

TO WORK TO DELAY AND REVISE THE FOOD SAFETY MODERNIZATION ACT AND

ITS IMPLEMENTATION

     Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, Coyne, Calkin, Kettle, and Miller

     Date Introduced: May 30, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island agriculture is an important and growing sector of the state's

economy with over 1,200 farms employing more than 2,500 workers, according to the University

of Rhode Island's 2015 study, The Economic Impact of Rhode Island Plant-Based Industries and

Agriculture; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island's farms are predominantly small-scale family run businesses

that have made the state a national leader in the quantity of fresh fruits and vegetables sold

directly from the farm to consumers; and

     WHEREAS, A strong local food system creates growth in many related businesses from

food processors, to storage facilities and transportation networks, to restaurants and tourism; and

     WHEREAS, The Food Safety Modernization Act was signed into law in 2011 to prevent

food contamination at its source; and

     WHEREAS, The American public deserves access to the safest food in the world, and an

important way to meet that goal is through policy that prevents food contamination; and

     WHEREAS, The Food and Drug Administration lacks the level of expertise and trust to

allow it to effectively regulate food production; and

     WHEREAS, The United States Department of Agriculture understands the complexities

of food growing and has the trust of American farmers; and

     WHEREAS, Implementation of policy to prevent food contamination should therefore be

overseen by the United States Department of Agriculture; and

     WHEREAS, Farmers are justifiably concerned that they have no power to prevent some

types of food contamination, but they will still be the ones who are punished for it under the Food

Safety Modernization Act; and

     WHEREAS, According to the Rhode Island Farm Bureau, a significant amount of

contamination takes place post production, often at the supermarket or at home by consumers;

and

     WHEREAS, Another reported source of contamination beyond the control of farmers is

contamination from wildlife; and

     WHEREAS, Small farms will reportedly be forced out of business trying to meet the

unattainable Food Safety Modernization Act standards; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby respectfully requests that failing such

improvement, the Food Safety Modernization Act be repealed; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation.

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LC002775

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