Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler and other leaders of the state’s agricultural community met in Raleigh today with U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway of Texas, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, to discuss a variety of national policy issues of interest to North Carolina farmers and agribusinesses. Topics included international trade, country-of-origin labeling, and the proposed Waters of the U.S. Rule.
In addition, Troxler brought up the pending implementation of the federal Food Safety Modernization Act. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will begin issuing the final rules to implement the law in late August. Troxler said it is important that the FDA get the rules right so that they achieve the law’s goals of promoting food safety without creating undue economic hardships for farmers and food companies.
The Commissioner also briefed Conaway on the state’s preparations to deal with highly pathogenic avian influenza if the animal disease strikes N.C. flocks this fall.
The meeting was organized by Rep. David Rouzer of North Carolina’s 7th Congressional District. Rouzer serves on the House Agriculture Committee and chairs the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture.