Industry welcomes Food Safety Bill
“After a three-week procedural roller coaster ride, the Food Safety bill has cleared Congress and is now before the president. Enactment of the bill is an important win for NPA and the industry,” said John Gay, executive director and chief executive officer of the Natural Products Association.
“Provisions that would hurt natural products retailers and suppliers were modified or removed from the bill, and measures supported by the industry were included. This legislation demonstrates the impact of the strong grassroots voice of NPA members and others in the industry.”
Steve Mister, the president and chief executive officer of the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), praised sections of Congress for shaping the final Bill.
“CRN commends Congress for today passing the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). FSMA was a demonstration of a thoughtful and bi-partisan approach to crafting meaningful and necessary legislation,” he said.
“Congress has now ensured that FDA will have the additional tools needed to help protect the public health in the area of food safety. We congratulate members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee for their tireless work over the last four years to pass meaningful food safety legislation.”
He added: “FSMA requires biennial registration of all food manufacturing facilities, provides FDA with new authority to mandate food recalls, requires companies to develop food safety plans, enhances public health and safety by adopting a risk-based approach to inspection, and will improve the safety of imported food and food ingredients. In addition, it will help consumers have confidence in the nutritional products they purchase and use every day. We are pleased to see this legislation pass Congress and look forward to the President signing it into law.”
Gay singled out Senators Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), “for their leadership and support of the industry.”
“We also appreciate the long, hard work of a number of senators, including Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), and Judd Gregg (R-N.H.).”
