Federal Government Policy and Business

FDA to Make Food Safety Rules More Farmer-Friendly

ABC News: The Food and Drug Administration says it will revise sweeping food safety rules proposed earlier this year after farmers complained the rules could hurt business.

Michael Taylor, FDA's commissioner for foods, said the agency wants to make sure the rules are practical for farmers who have to abide by them. The rules proposed in January would require farmers to take new precautions against contamination, making sure workers' hands are washed, irrigation water is clean, and that animals stay out of fields. Food manufacturers would have to submit food safety plans to the government to show they are keeping their operations clean. Those changes would in many cases require new equipment, paperwork and record keeping.

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