A number of US industry representatives have commended the passage of the Food Safety Enhancement Act (H.R. 2749), which was passed yesterday, Thursday, by the US House of Representatives on a vote of 283 to 142.
“United Fresh is gratified by the House passage of this landmark food safety legislation, which contains several important provisions designed to improve our nation’s food safety and help bolster consumer confidence in the food supply,” said Tom Stenzel, president of the United Fresh Produce Association.
“United Fresh is largely supportive of the bill, which has received broad bipartisan support. Over the past two years, United Fresh has supported congressional action on food safety and appreciates the opportunity to provide critical input to lawmakers in development of the bill.”
The new legislation will bring “common-sense updates” to reform the food safety system in the US, which has remained largely unchanged for a century, according to Jeffrey Levi, executive director of the Trust for America’s Health.
“Americans have a right to expect their government will ensure the food safety system is focused on fighting modern-day threats and will prevent unnecessary illness – this victory is a great start,” Mr Levi explained.
Pamela Bailey, president and CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers’ Association, who applauded the House for its “vision and leadership” in tackling the tough issue, also urged the Senate to swiftly follow suit and pass the food safety bill as quickly as possible.
“House passage of The Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 marks an important milestone,” said Ms Bailey. “This legislation will strengthen our nation’s food safety net by placing prevention as the cornerstone of our nation’s food safety strategy and providing FDA with the resources and authorities it needs to adequately fulfil its food safety mission. Combined with increased industry resources and vigilance, this legislation represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to modernize our food safety system and restore the public’s faith in the safety and security of the food supply.”
The bill will strengthen the prevention of foodborne illnesses in the US, which sicken approximately 76m Americans – one in four – each year.
The reform includes several important improvements, as advocated by United Fresh, including:
• Strengthened the bill’s commodity-specific approach to produce;
• Ensured that FDA would work with USDA, state departments of agriculture and other agencies in implementing all produce provisions;
• Kept a mandate for traceability across all foods, but without prescriptive dictates that could have set back work on our current Produce Traceability Initiative;
• Exempted produce from any duplicative requirements for country of origin labeling;
• Enhanced the ability of fresh processors to develop individual HACCP programs without rigid one-size fits-all mandates;
• Assured equal treatment of imported and domestic produce in food safety standards;
• Ensured tighter control of potential FDA geographic quarantine authority, requiring an imminent threat to take such action and coordination with USDA; and,
• Capped registration fees for both facilities and importers.
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