New Food Safety Law

New Food Safety Law

New Food Safety Law. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture.

Food safety is paramount. States are scrambling to find the answers to make sure that the food we eat is safe. Oregon agriculture director, Katy Coba, is confident that a new food safety law will be fair and effective in preventing food borne illnesses, but the law's proposed rules have a long way to go. She says the food industry, from growers to processors, is very interested in having a more effective food safety system. They just want to make sure it can be implemented without undue hardship on those who must comply.

COBA: It was really the food industry and the food regulators collectively that said we've got to bring the food regulation system up to meet what's happening in the real world.

And Coba says the Food Safety Modernization Act is much needed, but appreciates the scrutiny its proposed rules are getting. There are still questions about funding and what will be the state's role in the new law.

COBA: The rules are challenging enough, but once the rules are in place and we are actually out on the ground implementing those, that's a whole new challenge for us on the regulatory side. So we've got a lot of work to do between now and when we are actually boots on the ground.

Coba was speaking at the Northwest Food Processors Association meeting in Portland.

That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.

Previous ReportThe Future of GMO
Next ReportSage Grouse Extension