COTTON
Ginners Marketplace COTTON FARMING IS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY.
FDA Provides Update On FSMA Rules At NCC Annual Meeting Jennifer Erickson, regulatory counsel at the Food and Drug Administration, spoke to a gathering of cotton ginners at the National Cotton Council Annual Meeting in February. The presentation took place during the National Cotton Ginners’ Association Board of Directors and Annual Meeting. Erickson updated ginners on the current status of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act as it relates to cotton gins. For a little background, the FSMA’s Preventive Controls for Animal Food final rule was issued in September 2015. One of the first problems was that the rule contained guidance that would affect cotton gins — Subparts C & E, which require a food safety plan and various other programs. The ginning industry did not agree this part of the rule applied, and we have been working on the issue since then. FDA Has A Change Of Heart After meeting with the industry in Alabama and touring a cotton gin, the FDA agreed their interpretation was in error and needed to be fixed. In January 2018, the agency issued a policy regarding enforcement discretion for certain facilities, including cotton gins. Under this policy, cotton gins are not subjected to the regula-
tions related to preventative controls requirements or current good manufacturing practices. These are the portions of the rule with which the industry has been concerned. Since then, two years have passed. While FDA has been working on the issue internally, some in the industry have been concerned since so much time has passed with no final solution. Enforcement discretion is great, but it is a temporary solution based on a guidance document that could be modified at any time. Secondary Activities Farm Designation With the above concerns in mind, it was good to see Erickson was willing to update our group on the status of FSMA related to the cotton ginning industry. She reemphasized the enforcement discretion would remain in place until they were able to complete final fixes to the rule. She said FDA was reiterating its enforcement discretion policy during inspector training across the country. FDA’s plan at this point is to develop a better farm definition to include operations like cotton gins, which handle raw agricultural commodities and meet the definition of a Secondary Activities Farm — except for the ownership of the facility.
Lummus Ag Technology – a new name for an old friend. The team that’s been here for you through the years, now with an expanded commitment to be the source for the best in cotton ginning machinery, repair parts, and technical service. Regardless of your project scope, now is the time to contact Lummus to discuss your goals and needs. Just a short list of items we offer: Quality OEM Repair Parts Three levels of Gin Saw Bearings – Gold (Best), Silver (Better), and Standard (Good) Premium Gin Saws (available in both 0.036” and 0.045” thicknesses) Press Rebuilds (strain rods, boxes, sills, etc.) for Premier™ Dor-Les®, E.E. Dor-Les®, Gin Dor-Les®, and Lift-Box Dor-Les® (Standard and HighCapacity models) Unmatched Technical Service Installation Project Supervision and Management
Cotton Ginners Marketplace
All-new complete Gin Plants Ginning Machinery (individual machines, stand-alone systems, presses, etc.) Press Consoles and Main Control Consoles Burner and Moisture Unit Gas Train/Controls upgrades Air Monitoring and Fire Detection Kits Gin and Feeder Controls Gin Dor-Les® and E.E. Dor-Les® Press upgrades 16” diameter Bottom Ram Conversion Hydraulic Tramper/Pusher Conversion Premier™ III Series Hydraulic Pumping Units
We are ready and willing to partner with you to help make your business successful!
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APRIL 2020 | COTTON FARMING
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