House Committee Chairman Proposes Import Food Safety Legislation
August 10, 2007
Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce John Dingell (D-MI) has released "discussion draft" legislation that would create a user fee on imported food and drug shipments. The Food and Drug Import Safety Act of 2007 would generate funds to hire additional personnel and increase inspections at both the U.S. border and FDA labs. Funds would also be used for testing samples and researching new testing techniques. The legislation would also grant FDA new authorities to issue mandatory recalls, require country of origin labeling, limit the number of ports of entry for food items, and increase civil monetary penalties for manufacturers or importers who violate the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. "This is another example of the level of interest Congress has in investigating the safety of the nation's food supply and their belief that legislative action is necessary," said Robert Guenther, senior vice president of public policy for United Fresh. "The industry must continue to educate Congress and other elected officials about our ongoing efforts to address food safety issues for fresh produce," he said. For more details, contact Robert Guenther, 202-303-3409.
United Fresh Produce Association
1901 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: 202 303 3400
Fax: 202 303 3433 united@unitedfresh.org
