An Update on Food Safety Reform

by Jill Richardson · 2009-04-06 18:17:00 UTC
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I've gotten a new wave of questions about H.R.875, the bill that's generating fear all over the Internets. The reality is that H.R.875's a pretty decent bill overall, BUT it's not going to pass. So let's talk about reality instead of paranoid internet myths.

A new food safety law could come from a few different committees in the House or the Senate, but it's pretty clear by now that it's going to start in the House Energy & Commerce committee. That committee has already had several food safety hearings, whereas the Senate's had none (I think) and the House Ag committee had their first one last week. They key players in the Energy & Commerce committee are Rep. Waxman, Dingell, and Stupak. If you want to give some input into the upcoming food safety legislation, call their offices. Waxman: (202) 225-3976; John Dingell (202) 225-4071; and Bart Stupak 202) 225 4735.

Our friends Waxman, Stupak, and Dingell have, until now, favored Dingell's bill HR 759. However, because that bill contains provisions about drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics in addition to just food, I think they are going to kill that bill and introduce a new one that is very similar to HR 759's food provisions but with increased traceability requirements. HR 759 leaves the FDA intact and calls for increased inspections (at least once every 4 years). To pay for the increased inspections, the bill charges food manufacturers "user fees." The bill also requires farms to keep electronic records and gives the FDA the authority to call for a mandatory recall.

Congress is on a 2 week recess this week and next, and they'll be back in action on April 20.  That's when this new similar-to-HR 759 bill will be introduced and debated. So if you hear any more HR 875 rumors, tell whoever's spreading them to leave Rep. DeLauro alone and instead call the offices of Dingell, Waxman, and Stupak.

The Ag committee has had one hearing on food safety and I think they might be interested in introducing their own bill. The Senate's expected to work on the bill S.510 either later this year or perhaps even next year. So food reform is happening but not in a very speedy way.

Jill Richardson
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