Bob...I just received a NHB brochure explaining the "New Bioterrorism
Regulations."

  There are exemptions. Those exempt include:

Farms
Retail Food Operations
Restaurants
Nonprofit operations that prepare or serve food directly to consumers
Fishing vessels not engaged in processing
Facilities regulated exclusively throughout the entire facility by the US
Department of Agriculture

Farms are defined as facilities in one general physical location devoted to
growing and harvesting crops, the raising of animals, or both. The term
"farm" also includes facilities that pack or hold food provided that all
food used in such activities is grown, raised or consumed on that farm or
another farm under the same ownership. A farm-operated roadside stand that
sells food directly to consumers as its primary function would be exempt
from registration as a retail food establishment.

If you sell honey to a packer or sell honey to another outlet, you would
need to register. If you produce honey and consume all of it at your
location or sell food directly to consumers (roadside stand), you would be
exempt from registration and record keeping.

You will be required to keep records. Information includes:

Name, address, and phone of facility (business)
All trade names used
Food product categories
Emergency contact information
Statement of truth

Records would have to:

1. Identify the immediate (non-transporter) subsequent recipients of all
foods received, including the name of the firm and the responsible
individual; address; telephone number; fax number and e-mail address; type
of food, including brand name and specific variety; date released; lot
number or other identifier if available; quantity and type of packaging
(e.g., 12 oz. bottles); the name, address, and telephone -and, if
available, fax number and e-mail address-of the transporter who brought it.

2. Identify the immediate (non-transporter) subsequent recipients of all
food released, including the name of the firm and the responsible
individual; address; telephone number; fax number and e-mail address; type
of food including brand name and specific variety; date released; lot
number or other identifier if available; quantity and type of packaging;
the name, address, and telephone number - and, if available, fax number and
e-mail address - of the transporter who transported the food from you.

3. No particular record format is specified.

4. The proposed rules would require records to be created when food is
received, released or transported, with the records to be retained for two
years from that date.

5. All businesses must comply with the record keeping and access
requirements within the time specified after the final regulation is
published (Dec. 12, 2003):

10 or fewer full-time employees     18 months
11 to 499 full-time employees        12 months
500 or more full-time employees     6 months

Honey producers would likely meet the farm exemption if it were not for the
activity of extracting honey. The NHB believes honey extraction will be
considered "processing." Thus, beekeepers who extract must register and
comply with these regulations.

I hope this helps clear up some confusion...on our's the beekeepers part.

Mike


As for their's, the gov't's part...not even this will end their confusion.

And now that "they" know all about "our" activities...including what we
read at the library of our choice...don't ya feel way safe??

my opinions are my own, and can be deleted by the moderators if necessary

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