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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Eagle Point fire destroys barn ... Ashland schools set to begin work on turf field ... Camelot names Rains interim artistic director ... Eagle Point fire destroys barn ... Ashland schools set to begin work on turf field ... Camelot names Rains interim artistic director ... OREGON FARMS Oregon farm regulators eye 'stop work' authority Comment By Mateusz Perkowski Capital Press MailTribune.com By Mateusz Perkowski Capital Press Posted Mar. 30, 2016 at 3:30 PM By Mateusz Perkowski Capital Press Posted Mar. 30, 2016 at 3:30 PM » Social News CORVALLIS — Food manufacturers and pesticide applicators could be subject to "stop work" orders under new regulatory authority being considered by Oregon's farm regulators. The Oregon Department of Agriculture may seek new regulatory power to halt specific unlawful actions that endanger public safety. Currently, the agency can suspend or revoke the license of a food establishment or pesticide applicator that's violating the law, but such sanctions may be overkill in some situations, said Lauren Henderson, ODA's assistant director. "We don't have anything that's specific to an activity. It's all or nothing," he said during this week's meeting of the Oregon Board of Agriculture in Corvallis. Revoking a license or obtaining a temporary restraining order in court also involves fairly high legal hurdles, Henderson said. Taking such drastic steps would be overly burdensome for the agency and the business in the case of minor violations, such as a faulty thermometer in a refrigerated meat cooler, he said. Under the proposed "stop work" authority, the ODA could simply require a company to cease using that cooler until it's fixed, he said. "We're looking at something very narrow and probably short-term," Henderson said. At this point, the proposal is in a very early stage but the agency is considering it as a possible "legislative concept" for the 2017 legislative session, he said. Henderson acknowledged the "stop work" idea has met with some trepidation among regulated companies. "The industry as a whole is pretty nervous about us having that authority," he said. Aside from possibly affecting pesticide applications, the proposal could impact on-farm processing, such dairymen who make farmstead cheese. Doug Krahmer, a blueberry farmer and board member, said companies should have a way to challenge a "stop work" order. "I would caution you to put some sort of judicial mechanism in there, so if a grower or an owner takes issue with a stop work order, there is a quick way to get adjudication," he said. The U.S. Department of Labor did not provide such recourse when it issued "hot goods" orders in 2012 that halted the sale of perishable fruit based on alleged labor violations, he said. Krahmer said he would characterize the DOL's actions as "tyrannical" and he doesn't ever want to describe ODA that way. Katy Coba, ODA's director, said the agency is still examining similar authority in other states and recognizes the importance of protecting due process while ensuring public safety. "It's finding in statute the right balance," she said. By Mateusz Perkowski Capital Press MailTribune.com By Mateusz Perkowski Capital Press Posted Mar. 30, 2016 at 3:30 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501