The Maryland Department of Agriculture is urging produce farmers and processors to register with the department as part of the Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Safety Rule. Marylanders who have a farm or operation that grows, harvests, packs, or holds produce are encouraged to visit “How to Register a Produce Farm” on the department’ website for information about the act and registration process.
“The Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Safety Rule is still relatively new,” said Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks. “As that is the case, the department wants to make sure that all produce farmers are aware of the standards required under the act. I encourage all Maryland produce farmers to register with the department to ensure compliance of this act.”
Adopted into law in 2016, the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Food Quality Assurance Program has implemented a registration and farm inventory form for all Maryland farmers growing, harvesting, packing, or holding produce. The farm inventory provides the department with the information necessary to determine if a farm needs to comply with the Produce Safety Rule or may qualify for exemption from the rule. Under the law, produce includes all fruits and vegetables, mushrooms, sprouts, peanuts, tree nuts, and herbs.
The Food Safety Modernization Act became law in 2011 and was the first comprehensive update to federal food safety laws since 1938, setting new standards for food handling on the farm, as well as food processors, food shippers, importers, and retailers. Of particular interest to Maryland farmers is the Produce Safety Rule for produce farms and the Preventive Controls Rule for Human Food for on-farm processing facilities.
Farmers that are following the department’s Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices are well prepared to comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act. These practices are standards for reducing food safety hazards for produce on the farm. Many of the basic principles for reducing food safety risks are similar between these practices and the Food Safety Modernization Act requirements.
Source : maryland.gov