organic foods and keep in mind, one of the major proponents of the legislation was frankly, large grocery stores and large commercial manufacturers of the food and there was a big concern among small farms and inorganic producers that the cost to do business, based on the legislation would be extreme. so they put it in an amendment from senator tester to exempt small businesses and farms. the problem with the amendment is that it leaves the definition of what is a small farm and a, quote, very small farm, to the secretary of agriculture based on a study and likewise, it allows the secretary of agriculture to waive the exception at any time and then to the imported food requirements. technically, yes. it will apply the same american standards to imported foods and frankly a lot of the foodborne illnesses we re getting are from imported foods from china but the problem is it won t allow us to inspect the facilities in china or other countries and we have to depend on certifications from
is that it leaves the definition of what is a small farm and a, quote, very small farm, to the secretary of agriculture based on a study and likewise, it allows the secretary of agriculture to wave te exception at any time and then to the imported food requirements. technically, yes. it will apply the same american standards to imported foods and frankly a lot of the foodborne illnesses we re getting are from imported foods from china but the problem is it won t allow us to inspect the facilities in china or other countries and we have to depend on certifications from those countries and random and sporadic testing that we do. i think in a cost-benefit analysis there s some good in the legislation but particularly the impact to small farms, organic producers and local her chants. they could have done a better job. and, tom, let me ask you. critics have said this was created by big business to hurt entrepreneurial competition in the up and coming organic foods
from senator tester to exempt small businesses and farms. the problem with the amendment is that it leaves the definition of what is a small farm and a, quote, very small farm, to the secretary of agriculture based on a study and likewise, it allows the secretary of agriculture to wave te exception at any time and then to the imported food requirements. technically, yes. it will apply the same american standards to imported foods and frankly a lot of the foodborne illnesses we re getting are from imported foods from china but the problem is it won t allow us to inspect the facilities in china or other countries and we have to depend on certifications from those countries and random and sporadic testing that we do. i think in a cost-benefit analysis there s some good in the legislation but particularly the impact to small farms, organic producers and local her chants. they could have done a better job. and, tom, let me ask you. critics have said this was created by big business to hur