Food Safety Bill Imposes New Regulations, Fees on Food Industry

Food Safety Bill Imposes New Regulations, Fees on Food Industry

www.cnsnews.com

A food safety bill in the House will result in higher costs for consumers, says a food industry group.
Food Safety Enhancement Act creates a registry of all food facilities. All food sellers in or importing food to the US would be required to register annually with the FDA and maintain “traceability” procedures and records.

An annual $1,000 registration fee would "generate revenue for the FDA," according to Grocery marketers.
Obama's budget projects $385 million in new FDA revenue.

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[edit on 28-5-2009 by jdub297]

Did you like to try new salsas, candies, preserves, dips and cheeses at Farmers' Markets and craft shows? Most may disappear under new regulations and fees to be imposed in the name of "food safety."

While the FDA should focus on the major manufacturers and prevention of contamination, the new focus is regulation, fees and record-keeping that will unfairly imact small, local producers.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) says it agrees with the "broad goals" of the bill, but it also expressed concern about imposing significant new fees on food companies, which will be passed on to consumers -- "at a time when they can least afford it," GMA said.

“In addition, like many consumer groups, we are concerned about the inherent conflict of interest created by asking industry to fund government inspections," said GMA President and CEO Pamela G. Bailey.

The "traceability" provisions require people who produce or hold food products for sale to maintain source and content records and comply with strict inspection and reporting standards, and to prepare and provide a "safety plan" for FDA review.

While these provisions do not apply to farms that sell directly to consumers, they make no exemption for small-scale producers of "homemade" or "artisan" food products.

In addition to creating a food registry – and a $1,000 annual registration fee – the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 would give the FDA the authority to:

-- specify minimum requirements for food safety plans;
-- issue regulations for the safe production and harvesting of fruits and vegetables;
-- increase inspections of food facilities;
-- improve the “traceability” of food by requiring people to keep complete records of a food’s origin and distribution history;
-- impose stricter criminal and financial penalties on producers that fail to comply with safety requirements.

For the official publications and Act, see these:

Food Safety Enhancement Act Announcement
energycommerce.house.gov...:waxman-dingell-and-pallone-release-food-safety-enhancement-act- of-2009-draft&catid=122:media-advisories&Itemid=55

Summary:
energycommerce.house.gov...

Act:
energycommerce.house.gov...

jw





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[edit on 28-5-2009 by jdub297]