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 Draft Regulations to Define “Local” Foods Re-Published in the Maryland Register
Public Comment Accepted through May 23, 2011
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Revised proposed rules regulating the advertising of "local" foods are published in today’s Maryland Register for public comment announced Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance. The regulations were drafted by the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) as part of a law signed by Governor Martin O'Malley last year that seeks to bring clarity to consumers as to what constitutes local. After reviewing initial comments, MDA has redrafted the regulations.
“With the increased interest in buying local and the current lack of agreement on defining local, we feel it is paramount that consumers have the information they need to make informed decisions about their food purchases,” said Secretary Hance. “If advertising a food product as ‘local’, the proposed regulations will require businesses to disclose the origin of their product and consumers can make their own determination if a food advertised as ‘local’ meets their standard.”
The law authorizes the Secretary to regulate the use of the terms "local" or "locally grown" when used to advertise agricultural and seafood products. It aims to support Maryland farmers and provide transparency to consumers interested in purchasing local foods by informing Marylanders about their local foods purchases. In recent years, interest in locally produced foods has surged, leading to the rapid growth of farmer's markets, and the appearance of Maryland products in restaurants and grocery stores. However, there has been little agreement as to the definition of "local" foods. In addition to public comments, a task force of farmers, retail representatives, consumer advocates, and other interested stakeholders provided input for the proposal.
The redrafted regulations require businesses that advertise raw meat, eggs, fish, fruits, vegetables, shellfish and processed dairy products as local or being locally grown, regionally grown or produced, or otherwise represented as having originated close by, must have point-of-sale signage indicating the state of its origin.
A "Frequently Asked Questions" document is available online at: http://www.mda.state.md.us/pdf/buylocalfaq.pdf.
The 2010 Policy Choices Survey by the University of Baltimore Schaefer Center for Public Policy found that 78 percent of Marylanders are more likely to buy produce that is identified as having been grown by a Maryland farmer.
Visit http://www.dsd.state.md.us/MDRegister/mdregister.aspx for a link to the Register. Comments may be sent to Mark Powell, Chief of Marketing, Maryland Department of Agriculture, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401, or call 410-841-5775 or email
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, or fax to (410) 841-5957.
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