FIRE BAN IN EFFECT In response to the continued elevated risk of wildfires, DEM has issued a fire ban at all State Parks, campgrounds, and management areas until further notice. The ban is effective as of today (10/28/24) and includes campfires in designated campfire areas, including charcoal fires and cooking fires. This preventative measure applies to all DEM-managed lands and aims to reduce the threat of human-caused wildfires. DEM will continue to monitor and evaluate conditions to determine when the ban can be lifted. Together we can protect our communities and keep first responders safe by reducing the risk of wildfires: 📞 Call 911 if you spot a fire/smoke. Timely information is critical to contain fires before they spread. 🔥 Remember, any outdoor fire is a potential source for a wildfire. Be careful with cigarettes and ashes. When disposing of wood stove ashes, put the ashes in a metal bucket of water. 🚒 Check with your local fire department for any other restrictions and permitting information. 🚨 Stay informed and find resources at dem.ri.gov/wildfirestatus.
What is FSMA? The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law in 2011. It is the first comprehensive federal food safety law in over 70 years. FSMA aims to set standards for farms growing fruits and vegetables that may be eaten raw. FSMA is intended to reduce the risk of microbial contamination of fresh produce by shifting focus from responding to contamination to preventing it. It will be administered by the federal Food & Drug Administration (FDA). FSMA consists of 7 sets of rules that apply to different sectors of the food system. However, this page will focus on one which is of particular is of interest to Rhode Island producers because of their potential impact on current farm operations. The Produce Safety Rule The Produce Safety Rule includes a set of standards that are deemed necessary to minimize Microbial risks of fresh produce. It applies to "farms" or those who grow, harvest, pack or hold produce generally eaten raw, i.e. greens, melons, tomatoes, apples, etc. (aka "covered produce" or raw agricultural commodities "RAC's"). It does not apply to produce rarely consumed raw, produce grown for personal consumption, on farm consumption, or on another farm under the same ownership. What is FSMA's Produce Safety Rule? Key Requirements of the Produce Safety Rule Worker Health, Hygiene and Training Agricultural Production Water Biological Soil Amendments Wildlife, Domesticated Animals & Land Use Post-Harvest Handling & Sanitation Post-Harvest Water Does the Food Safety Modernization Act or the Produce Safety Rule Apply to me? Do you have a produce farm? If you operate a farm business that grows, harvests, packs, or holds produce, the Produce Safety Rule likely applies to you. Do you process a food product? If you operate a business that processes, packs, manufactures, or holds food, the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Preventive Controls for Human Foods Rule likely applies to you. If you grow and process food you may be covered by both rules. Use our Produce Safety Rule Coverage Determination Tool to help you understand if the Produce Rule applies to your Farm. Exemptions under the Produce Safety Rule Exclusion: You are not covered under the Produce Safety Rule if: You make less than $25,000 in average produce sales. Qualified Exemption: You are eligible for Qualified Exemption under the Produce Safety Rule if: Your total food sales averages less than $500,000 for the previous 3 years, AND Greater than 50% of those sales go to qualified end-users. Other Exclusions: Additional criteria that may exclude you from the Produce Safety Rule include: You grow produce that is not covered under the Produce Safety Rule; You grow food grains; Your produce is consumed on-farm or for personal use; Your produce undergoes commercial processing, or a "kill step". If you fall under any of these categories, please see our Qualified Exemptions and Exclusions page to learn more about exemption requirements and access the Produce Safety Rule Exemption Application. Produce Safety Rule Compliance Dates For covered activities, other than those involving sprouts (which have additional requirements and earlier compliance dates): January 26, 2018: Covered farms for which, on a rolling basis, the average annual monetary value of produce the farm sold during the previous 3-year period is more than $500,000. January 28, 2019: Covered farms for which, on a rolling basis, the average annual monetary value of produce the farm sold during the previous 3-year period is more than $250,000 but not more than $500,000 (small businesses). January 27, 2020: Covered farms for which, on a rolling basis, the average annual monetary value of produce the farm sold during the previous 3-year period is more than $25,000 but no more than $250,000 (very small businesses). Additional compliance dates for farms eligible for certain exemptions can be found on the FDA’s FSMA Compliance Dates web page. Inflation Adjusted Cutoffs More information on compliance dates Additional Resources Food Safety Modernization Act Webpage (FDA) Produce Safety Rule: Key Requirements Fact Sheet (FDA, PDF) RI Certified Drinking Water Testing Labs (RIDOH) Final Produce Safety Rule (FDA) FSMA Full Text (FDA) Coverage and Exemptions/Exclusions Flowchart (FDA, PDF) Produce Safety Alliance Website