<head><style>body{font-family: Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:9pt;background-color: #ffffff;color: black;}</style></head><body id="compText">I just spent 30 minutes trying to write an eloquent, thoughtful, and yet tactful response only to have the power go out yet again. So out of frustration and the unwillingness to spend all of my life in unproductive and pointless pursuits. I recommend that everyone visit/revisit these thoughts from Henry David Thoreau:<br><br>http://thoreau.eserver.org/civil.html<br><br>My apologies in advance to anyone not seeing the relevance...<br><br>Robin<br><br><br><blockquote style="border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 255); padding-left: 5px; margin-left: 0px;">-----Original Message-----
<br>From: myron hardesty <medweed@mac.com>
<br>Sent: Dec 9, 2009 9:53 PM
<br>To: MPWG <mpwg@lists.plantconservation.org>
<br>Subject: [MPWG] (no subject)
<br><br><zzzhtml><zzzbody style="word-wrap: break-word;">
<br>Sorry for the possible confusion. Apparently it was a resend from earlier in the year. Please let this not be an instance of crying wolf. Updates on the bill below:<div><img src="cid:D5DC5111-FF52-4174-AC96-3E5058631E76@local"><div style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; min-height: 14px;"><br></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 32px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; color: rgb(218, 37, 26);" size="7" color="#da251a" face="Helvetica"><b>Retraction: </b></font><font style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 32px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;" size="7" face="Helvetica">ACTION ALERT: Organic Farming Ban</font></div><p style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;" size="3" face="Helvetica"> </font></p><div style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;" size="5" face="Helvetica">The Community Farm Alliance regrets that “ACTION ALERT: Organic Farming Ban” was sent out. This is a dated action alert from earlier in the year. HR 875 is of no threat to any farmer or producer since the bill has been stuck in the House Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry since April 23 of this year and will likely never move anywhere. Further, it is not a threat because on July 29, the House passed HR 2749, the Food Safety Enhancement Act. This piece of legislation, it is fair to say, is not without its issues, but is by no means an outright ban on organic or small scale farming. We apologize for not checking our facts and we promise to never let this happen again.</font></div><p style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;" size="5" face="Helvetica"> </font></p><div style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;" size="5" face="Helvetica">This however presents us with a useful opportunity to give some background on current Food Safety legislation and the concerns given by organizations such as National Sustainable Agriculture Alliance (NSAC) and the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance.</font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;" size="5" face="Helvetica"><b> </b></font></div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; min-height: 14px;"><br></p><div style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; min-height: 14px;"><br></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;" size="3" face="Helvetica"><b>Background:</b></font></div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; min-height: 14px;"><br></p><div style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; min-height: 14px;"><br></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;" size="5" face="Helvetica">Following the passage of HR 2749, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee began work on S.510, “The Food Safety and Modernization Act.” S.510 left committee on November 17</font><font style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;" size="4" face="Helvetica"><sup>th</sup></font><font style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;" size="5" face="Helvetica"> and is headed for the full Senate for debate. With the current debate over health care dominating the legislative scene, it is unlikely that this bill will come to a vote, much less debate, anytime soon. While regulating food safety is highly necessary, S.510 unfortunately regards small and mid-size producers as if they were operating on an industrial-scale complete with matching regulations.</font></div><p style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;" size="5" face="Helvetica"> </font></p><div style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;" size="5" face="Helvetica"><b>The NSAC has highlighted several areas of concern:</b></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;" size="5" face="Helvetica">-The definition of farm "facility" is too broad and includes farms doing value-added processing of low risk foods (if a farm has to register as a "facility," then it must "develop, implement, and monitor HACCP-type plans, be inspected on an iterative basis by the FDA, and under the House Bill, pay an annual registration fee").</font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;" size="5" face="Helvetica">-There is no language stating that the FDA must make its new GAPs scale appropriate, pro-diversification and in line with existing organic standards.</font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;" size="5" face="Helvetica">-There is no exemption on traceability requirements for direct farmer to consumer, store, or restaurant sales or "farm identity-preserved labeling sales"</font></div><p style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;" size="5" face="Helvetica"> </font></p><div style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;" size="5" face="Helvetica">Ultimately, this bill is very unclear about who the FDA will be regulating and how they will be doing so. The lack of clarity is a big concern.</font></div><p style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;" size="5" face="Helvetica"> </font></p><div style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;" size="5" face="Helvetica">Several CFA members have expressed their concern about this bill and how it could impact their farm or business. We will continue to monitor it. If you are concerned about S.510, we recommend you contact your US Senators to let them know how you feel.</font></div><p style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;" size="5" face="Helvetica"> </font></p><div style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;" size="5" face="Helvetica"><b>If you would like more information about HR 2749 or S.510, please contact our Frankfort office or visit NSAC Homepage: <a target="_blank" href="http://sustainableagriculture.net">http://sustainableagriculture.net</a>/</b></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;" size="5" face="Helvetica"><b> </b></font></div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><font style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;" size="5" face="Helvetica">Again, we sincerely apologize for the misleading ACTION ALERT. We appreciate your concerns and thank you for your understanding.</font></p> <br><img src="cid:4744D2CD-58BF-4E81-AA1B-5A07F448C701@local"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; text-align: center; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; min-height: 14px;" align="center"><br></p><div style="margin: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; min-height: 14px;"><br></div><div><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 6px;">☿ Myron Hardesty, PA-C</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 6px;"> Medical Herbalist</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 6px;"> ☤</p><div> <a target="_blank" href="mailto:medweed@mac.com">medweed@mac.com</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div style="word-wrap: break-word;"><div style="margin: 0px;">The art of healing comes from nature, not from the physician.</div><div style="margin: 0px;">Therefore the physician starts from nature, and proceeeds with an open mind. --- Paracelsus</div></div></div></div></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></span> </div><br></div></div></zzzbody></zzzhtml></mpwg@lists.plantconservation.org></medweed@mac.com></blockquote></body><pre>
Robin Alton Suggs
MoonBranch Botanicals
5294 Yellow Creek Road
Robbinsville, North Carolina 28771
USA
Telephone: 828.479.2788
moonbranch@earthlink.net
www.moonbranch.com
Member:
American Herbalist Guild
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project; Farm Partner
Co-op America
Green Products Alliance
National Network of Forest Practitioners
North Carolina Consortium on Natural Medicines
North Carolina Goodness Grows/NCDA&CS
North Carolina Natural Products Association
Southwestern North Carolina RC&D Council
United Plant Savers
"If you have ten thousand regulations, you destroy all respect for the law."
-Winston Churchill
</pre>