Federal officials are trying to reassure farmers in New Hampshire and Vermont about proposed food safety rules that would require them to be more vigilant about guarding against contamination.
About 200 farmers, consumers and others attended a listening session Tuesday hosted by the Food and Drug Administration at Dartmouth College to discuss proposed rules for implementing the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act. New England farmers argue that many aspects were derived from large-scale farming operation practices that don't represent the region's smaller farms.
Michael Taylor, a deputy FDA commissioner, told the crowd the goal is to ensure food safety while also recognizing the diversity of the agriculture industry. He outlined various exemptions for smaller farms and said states also can apply for variances if they have alternative safety measures.
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