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.
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Physical Address: 225225 Bourne Boulevard • Savannah, Georgia 31408-9586 Physical Address: Bourne Boulevard • Savannah, Georgia 31408-9586USA USA Mailing Address: P.O. Box 929929 • Pooler, Georgia 31322-0929 USA Mailing Address: P.O. Box • Pooler, Georgia 31322-0929 USA Phone: (912) 447-9000 • Fax: (912) 447-9250 Phone: (912) 447-9000 • Fax: (912) 447-9250 TollToll Free (USA Only): 1-800-4LUMMUS (1-800-458-6687) Free (USA Only): 1-800-4LUMMUS (1-800-458-6687) Web Site: www.lummus.com • E-mail: lummus.sales@lummus.com Web Site: www.lummus.com • E-mail: lummus.sales@lummus.com
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APRIL 2020 | COTTON FARMING
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In other words, under the proposal outlined during the meeting, all cotton gins would be considered Secondary Activities Farms under the updated rule. The counsel assured us FDA was committed to implementing a solution at the staff level and up the chain of command. The change would solve the issue cotton gins face with the rule, and according to Erickson, a little more patience with the FDA will result in a much better rule for our industry. Our association, along with the National Cotton Council, the National Cotton Ginners’ Association and the other regional associations across the United States, will continue to monitor the issue closely. Hopefully, we will be able to give everyone an update in the near future. J. Kelley Green, TCGA director of technical services, contributed this article. Contact him at kelley@tcga.org.
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Significant Change Made To The Original Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association says an updated Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, is now available. After months of waiting, a new I-9 form has been released. Employers are still allowed to use the previous version of the I-9 until April 30. After that date, the new version must be used. A significant change to the original Form I-9 includes an employer’s ability to designate an “authorized representative” to assist in completing the employer requirement on the form. The authorized representative is responsible for completing
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The California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association provided this information.
Cotton’s Calendar Due to the fluid situation involving COVID-19, some listed events may be canceled or postponed. Please verify with the individual organizations. ¢ April 14-16: American Cotton Producers Spring Meeting,
Omni Mandalay Hotel at Las Colinas, Irving, Texas
¢ April 15: PCCA Board, Delegate Body & Marketing Pool
Committee Meetings, Lubbock, Texas
¢ May 6-8: ACSA Convention, Ritz Carlton, Washington, D.C. ¢ May 18-20: National Cottonseed Products Annual Meeting,
Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort, Miramar Beach, Florida
¢ May 20: PCCA Board of Directors Meeting, Lubbock, Texas ¢ May 21: Calcot Board of Directors Meeting, San Antonio, Texas ¢ June 16-18: Cotton Incorporated Board Meeting, Omni
Mandalay Bay, Dallas, Texas
¢ June 17: Staplcotn Board of Directors Meeting, Greenwood,
Mississippi
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Section 2 of the I-9 that includes examining evidence of identity and employment authorization on behalf of the employer. Additionally, clarification to the list of “acceptable documents” has been made, and a full list of those is available on the last page of the Form I-9. Visit our website, https://ccgga.org/updated-i-9-formsnow-available/, for both the Form I-9 as well as the I-9 instructions for your review and use.
Gin Equipment 1- 10’ R-320 Consolidated/HGM Stick Machine w/ Trash Conveyor 1- 10’ x 30” CMI Cotton Vacuum w/Dodge Gear Box Drive 1- Vandergriff American Jet Dryer Has 40 BPH Inlet & Outlet; Inlet/Outlet Can Be Changed To Fit Your BPH 1- 8’ x 24” Murray Cotton Vacuum, No Drive 1- Splatter Back Inlet For 10’ Inclined Cleaner 1- 72” Horn Undershot Battery Condenser with Back Extension in Excellent Condition
COTTON FARMING | APRIL 2020
FOR SALE: 1 – 158 GIN STAND W/ CONTROLS & 700 FEEDER MANUFACTURER OF HI- CAPACITY LINT CLEANING SYSTEMS IN 86” TO 110” WIDTHS NEW 60”, 72”, & 80” OVERSHOT BATTERY CONDENSERS 96” TO 144” INCLINE CLEANERS, STICK MACHINES, & AIR LINE SEPARATORS HIGH CAPACITY VACUUMS USED & FACTORY REBUILT GIN MACHINERY PLASTIC BALING PRESSES COMPLETE LINE OF REPAIR PARTS FOR MURRAY, MITCHELL, H.E., CONSOLIDATED, CONTINENTAL, MOSS, LUMMUS, HORN, & CMI
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¢¢June 17: PCCA Board, Delegate Body & Marketing Pool
Committee Meetings, Lubbock, Texas
¢¢June 18: Calcot Board of Directors Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona ¢¢July 9-12: Cottonseed & Feed Association 2020 Annual
Meeting, Intercontinental Hotel, Kansas City, Missouri
¢¢July 16: Calcot Board of Directors Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona ¢¢July 20-23: Southern Southeastern Mid-Year Board Meeting,
Sheraton Bay Point, Panama City Beach, Floridaorida
¢¢Aug. 4-6: Cotton Board & Cotton Incorporated Joint Board
Meeting, The Phoenician, Scottsdale Arizona
¢¢Aug. 19: PCCA Board, Delegate Body & Marketing Pool
Committee Meetings, Lubbock, Texas
¢¢Aug. 26-28: NCC Mid-Year Board Meeting, Omni Louisville
Hotel, Louisville, Kentucky Meeting, Lubbock, Texas
¢¢Sept. 16: Staplcotn Board of Directors Meeting, Greenwood,
Mississippi
¢¢Sept. 28: Calcot Board of Directors/Auditors’ Meeting,
Phoenix, Arizona
¢¢Sept. 29: Calcot Board of Directors Meeting/93rd Annual
Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona
¢¢Oct. 21: PCCA Board, Delegate Body & Marketing Pool
Committee Meetings, Lubbock, Texas
¢¢Nov. 18: PCCA Board of Directors Meeting, Lubbock, Texas ¢¢Dec. 8-10: Cotton Board & Cotton Incorporated Joint Board
Meeting, Don Cesar, St. Pete Beach, Florida
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¢¢Sept. 16: PCCA Annual Meeting and Board of Directors
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¢¢Dec. 16: PCCA Board, Delegate Body & Marketing Pool
Committee Meetings, Lubbock, Texas Twitter: @CottonFarming
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