Food Safety Enhancement Act Passes House Vote

Posted on July 31, 2009 by Shawn Stevens

After failing to pass a  vote in the House of Representatives on Wednesday (July 29), the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 (H.R. 2749) returned to the House floor for a second vote on Thursday (July 30).  

On the second try, the Dingell-Waxman bill, designed to modernize the FDA’s food safety authority, passed by a vote of 283 - 142. Click on the following link for a summary of the legislation.

Key provisions of the bill include the following:

  • Inspections: Food and Drug Administration inspections of food facilities would increase from about once every 10 years to at least annually for high-risk facilities and at least once every three years for facilities deemed a low risk. FDA inspectors will have access to company records.
  • Registration: Food processors, importers and other food handlers must register annually with the FDA and pay a yearly fee of $500 for each food facility.
  • Recalls: The FDA could mandate the recall of tainted foods, instead of relying on food makers to pull items voluntarily.
  • Safe practices: For the first time, the FDA could set standards for safe production of food on farms, as well as require food manufacturers to meet safety standards.

The 132-page bill now goes to the Senate where Illinois Democrat Dick Durham is waiting with his own bill.   Any differences between the House and Senate versions will likely be resolved by Conference Committee. Reportedly, President Obama already endorsed the House bill before Thursday’s successful vote.

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Another Step Forward For The Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009

Posted on June 18, 2009 by Shawn Stevens

Following recent increases in public and media attention focused on food-borne illness, outbreaks and recalls, the House Energy and Commerce Committee has approved the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009. The proposed legislation is designed to enhance FDA food safety-related authority. 

The bill, H.R. 2749, passed the committee unanimously with an amendment that would exempt food production facilities and products regulated exclusively by the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act or the Egg Products Inspection Act.  The bipartisan bill, spearheaded by Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Chairman Emeritus John Dingell (D-MI), has received support from a broad coalition of consumer and public health organizations.

According to reports, the full House is expected to vote on the bill prior to the July 4 recess. Click on the following link to view a copy of the proposed legislation, as amended. If enacted, the bill would give the FDA new authority to create robust food safety standards, to establish rules for enhancing traceability, to increase inspections at high-risk facilities, to mandate food product recalls, and to enforce new penalties for violations of federal food safety requirements.

The legislation would also increase FDA funding to facilitate these efforts by requiring food companies to pay new annual registration fees of $500.

Although proposed food safety initiatives are also planned for debate in the U.S. Senate, these efforts, reportedly, may be stalled as a result of ongoing legislative efforts associated with proposed health care reform.

In any event, we’ll continue to report as the debate continues.

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