News Date: 04/22/2008
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.) released a "discussion draft" of comprehensive legislation which is designed to provide more funding and authority for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure the safety of the nation's food, drug, medical device and cosmetic supply. The draft bill would address a number of food safety issues, including labeling, recalls, testing, and imports. Dingell issued the "discussion draft" with Health Subcommittee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Bart Stupak (D-Mich.). Some of the major food safety proposals included in the draft document are: * Create an up-to-date registry of all food facilities serving American consumers by requiring all facilities to register with FDA annually. Registration would require payment of a $2,000 fee per facility to double current funding for the agency's food safety budget. * Provide FDA with new authority to issue mandatory recalls of tainted foods, including strengthened fines imposed on food facilities that fail to comply with safety requirements. * Require domestic and foreign food facilities to have safety plans in place to identify and mitigate hazards. * Allow foreign and domestic food facilities to voluntarily seek certification from FDA-accredited certifying agents. Certification would indicate that all U.S. food safety requirements are being met. * Directs FDA to develop voluntary security guidelines for imported foods. * Expands laboratory testing capacity and allows FDA to accredit third-party laboratories to perform testing and ensure performance standards are being met. * Clarify consumer labeling for certain foods treated with carbon monoxide. Committee leaders said they intend to hold hearings on the draft proposal over the next few weeks and plan to markup legislation soon afterward. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.) released a "discussion draft" of comprehensive legislation which is designed to provide more funding and authority for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure the safety of the nation's food, drug, medical device and cosmetic supply. The draft bill would address a number of food safety issues, including labeling, recalls, testing, and imports.
Dingell issued the "discussion draft" with Health Subcommittee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Bart Stupak (D-Mich.). Some of the major food safety proposals included in the draft document are:
* Create an up-to-date registry of all food facilities serving American consumers by requiring all facilities to register with FDA annually. Registration would require payment of a $2,000 fee per facility to double current funding for the agency's food safety budget.
* Provide FDA with new authority to issue mandatory recalls of tainted foods, including strengthened fines imposed on food facilities that fail to comply with safety requirements.
* Require domestic and foreign food facilities to have safety plans in place to identify and mitigate hazards.
* Allow foreign and domestic food facilities to voluntarily seek certification from FDA-accredited certifying agents. Certification would indicate that all U.S. food safety requirements are being met.
* Directs FDA to develop voluntary security guidelines for imported foods.
* Expands laboratory testing capacity and allows FDA to accredit third-party laboratories to perform testing and ensure performance standards are being met.
* Clarify consumer labeling for certain foods treated with carbon monoxide.
Committee leaders said they intend to hold hearings on the draft proposal over the next few weeks and plan to markup legislation soon afterward. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)
Sign up here to receive NASDA News.