Policy News

Current issues in food and agricultural policy:

• GE/GMO Foods
• Food safety legislation
• National Organic Standards Board meeting
• Organic Foods Production Act turns 20
• Representative Welch proposes bill for more local fruits and vegetables in schools

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GE/GMO Foods

• Tell the FDA to label GE Foods!
  We are proud to be partners of the Just Label It campaign, urging the FDA to require labeling of all genetically modified foods.
• United We Stand In Opposition to GE Alfalfa
  A letter signed by over 20 organic, food safety, and other organizations in protest of the USDA's decision to approve GE alfalfa. (January 31, 2011)
  
• NOFA's GE Alfalfa Primer (January, 2011)
• Leahy Tells USDA to Stick to the Rules - PDF
  A letter from Leahy, signed by over 50 congresspeople, asking Secretary Vilsack to keep GE alfalfa regulated - in response to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement issued in June, 2010. 
• NOFA Vermont GE Alfalfa Action Alert (sent January 18, 2011)
• USDA Announces options for approving GE alfalfa - Action Alert from National Organic Coalition - PDF (December 17, 2010)
• Read the National Organic Coalition's guidelines for preventing GMO contamination - PDF (December 17, 2010)
  

• The FDA is considering approval of genetically-engineered salmon without adequate studies of health and environmental consequences. Read NOFA Vermont’s action alert.

More information can be found on the Center For Food Safety webpage.

 

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Food safety legislation updates

NOFA Vermont has been working with other organizations for months on amendments to S.510, The Food Safety Modernization Act, to protect small farms and food processors. The following articles discuss the status and politics of this bill.

Food Safety Modernization Act Summary by NOFA Vermont Policy Advisor, Dave Rogers. PDF (January 2011)

Food Safety Bill Heads to President's Desk (Food Safety News, December 22, 2010)
It appears that President Obama will sign the bill after the new year.

Congress Sends Food Safety Bill to President’s Desk (National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, December 21, 2010)
NOFA Vermont participated as a member of NSAC's Food Safety Task Force that worked on this legislation during the year.

Senate Passes Food Safety Bill (Food Safety News, December 20, 2010)

The real nitty-gritty on small farms and the food-safety bill (Grist Magazine, December 3, 2010)

S. 510: Some of the Details (Food Safety News, December 1, 2010)

Food Safety Update: Final Senate Action Set for Right After Thanksgiving (National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, November 19, 2010)

Letter from Senator Sanders regarding S.510 and the Tester Amendment - PDF (November 17, 2010)

Action Alert from NOFA Vermont (November 12, 2010) Contains details of the Tester-Hagan and Manager's Amendments.  

(Update: Since this was sent, the distance for exemption has been changed to 275 miles and the Tester-Hagen Amendment has been incorporated into the Manager's Amendment.)

A Sustainable Agriculture Perspective on Food Safety - PDF (National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, November 11, 2010)

Can Congress make a food-safety omelet without breaking the wrong eggs? (Grist Magazine, October 25, 2010)

Food Safety Bill Remains Stalled In Senate (National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, September 22, 2010)

Op-Ed: S. 510: A Study in How Much You Trust Government (Food Safety News, September 20, 2010)

Contact Dave Rogers, NOFA Vermont Policy Advisor for more information.

 

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National Organic Standards Board meeting announced, October 25-28, Madison Wisconsin.

Among many other items being considered at its semi-annual meeting, the NOSB will be discussing broad-reaching recommendations for new organic standards in several areas, including Biodiversity, Animal Welfare and Nanotechnology. These recommendations and the full meeting agenda can be found on the NOSB webpage.

Vermont Organic Farmers and NOFA Vermont will be attending the NOSB meeting and submitting comments on a number of NOSB recommendations. Click here to read our comments.

 

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Organic Foods Production Act Marks 20th Anniversary

NOFA Vermont Board Member Regina Beidler testified at a U.S. Senate Agriculture hearing, "The National Organic Law at 20: Sowing Seeds for a Bright Future" on Sept 15th, 2010. Read Regina’s testimony (PDF).

Read the National Organic Coalition’s press release and testimony of Micheal Sligh on behalf of NOC.

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Representative Welch proposes bill for more local fruits and vegetables in schools.

Farm to School News (Vermont Food Education Every Day – VT FEED)

"Welch proposes bill for fresher farm-to-school food" (Burlington Free Press, September 13, 2010)

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