House committee moves FDA food safety bill forward

House committee moves FDA food safety bill forward    The House Energy and Commerce Committee has marked up and voted to move forward Wednesday legislation to improve the enforcement and oversight of the nation's food supply by the Food and Drug Administration.
   'We stand on the verge of passing a comprehensive, broadly supported and bipartisan reform of our nation's food safety laws,' said House Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, in a statement.
   'I'm more confident than ever that we'll soon be able to take this legislation to the (House) floor,' he added. 'And I am hopeful that before too long, we can have a comprehensive food safety bill on President Obama's desk.'
   The produce industry praised the committee for seeking its input in the 2009 Food Safety Enhancement Act (H.R. 2749) legislation.
   'While our association was pleased that a number of produce industry priorities were included in the original draft of H.R. 2749, there were still many problem areas in that draft,' said Tom Stenzel, president of the United Fresh Produce Association. 'Since that time, we have worked closely with committee members on both sides of the aisle, as well as congressional leaders outside of the committee, and are pleased with a number of significant improvements in the bill.'

Waxman

   United Fresh noted key improvements to the bill from Wednesday's mark-up, including:
   ' Strengthening the bill's commodity-specific approach to produce.
   ' Ensuring that FDA works with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, state departments of agriculture and other agencies to implement all produce provisions.
   ' Keeping a mandate for traceability across all foods, but eliminating the draft bill's prescriptive dictates that could have set back work on United Fresh's Produce Traceability Initiative.
   ' Exempting produce from any duplicative requirements for country of origin labeling.
   ' Assuring equal treatment of imported and domestic produce in food safety standards.
   ' Securing a pilot program and feasibility study for potential mandatory test reporting, and limiting the testing to facilities required to comply with Good Manufacturing Practices.
   ' Ensuring tighter control of potential FDA geographic quarantine authority by requiring an imminent threat to take such action.
   ' Capping registration fees at $500 for both facilities and importers.
   Waxman said FDA 'will not be the only cop on the beat' when it comes to carrying out the nation's future food safety activities.
   'One of the most important changes that will occur under this bill is a new focus on prevention, and a shared responsibility between FDA and food manufacturers to keep the food supply safe,' he said. 'The bill will require manufacturers to implement preventive systems to stop outbreaks before they occur. All food facilities will have to conduct hazard analyses, assess potential food safety risks, and develop plans to keep the food supply safe.' ' Chris Gillis