CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Seventy-five members of Congress are asking the Food and Drug Administration to allow further comment on sweeping food safety rules that farmers say could drive them out of business.
The group sent a letter Monday asking the agency to propose a second set of rules to implement the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act, which would require farmers to take new precautions against contamination. New England farmers have argued that many aspects of the rules were derived from large-scale farming practices that don't apply to the region's smaller farms.
Members of Congress involved in the request include New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt, Connecticut Rep. Joe Courtney, New York Rep. Chris Gibson and New Hampshire Rep. Annie Kuster. The entire northern New England delegation signed on.