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"After a year-long battle with small farms, big farms, food establishments and government, a law that is meant to make our food supply safer was finally passed. That little amendment that could (and did make this possible): A last-minute provision to the bill, which ruled exempt farmers selling less than $500,000 each year (in other words, small farmers) that &amp;quot;directly market to consumers in a 275 mile areas.&amp;quot; What does the act do? CBS has a pretty good list, below: - Gives the FDA authority to recall contaminated foods. It is currently a voluntary system  - Increases inspections at food facilities. Once every three years for high-risk facilities.  - Requires importers to verify food safety.  - Increases traceability and tracking of high risk foods. Creates a pilot program to increase contamination traceability.  - Allows FDA to access records if there is reasonable probability a food is causing sickness or death in humans or animals.  - Allows FDA to create new standards for the safety of fresh produce.  - FDA can collect fees for non-compliance with recalls or reinspections.  - FDA must form new regulations on safe food transport conditions.  - FDA can allow outside laboratories to conduct third party inspections to ease the load for the FDA.  - Increases funding and staff at FDA. And while many are still up in arms about the more extensive regulations\u2014some drama planted in politics and other in the community of farmers\u2014I can&amp;#039;t help but agree with my favorite food blogger, Marion Nestle, who says: &amp;quot;It&amp;#039;s ridiculous for small farms to complain about a little paperwork and that adopting the industry&amp;#039;s food safety regimens are easy and necessary. &amp;quot; And since she is the expert (and author of Food Politics), you&amp;#039;d be wise to read her thoughts on S.510 if interested further. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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