- The final version of food security provisions in new
bioterrorism legislation represent a vast improvement over earlier versions,
according to John R. Cady, president and CEO of the National Food Processors
Association (NFPA). The US House of Representatives passed the final bill
yesterday [Wednesday], and approval by the Senate is expected shortly.
-
- Make no mistake, this represents a vast expansion of
regulatory authority for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Cady stated,
noting that the Bill's conferees did well to prevent "the expansion
of these powers far beyond the cause of dealing with potential terrorist
threats against our food security.
-
- The new provisions include granting administrative detention
authority to FDA to hold foods they believe may pose a serious health threat;
permissive debarment authority to prevent "bad actors" from attempting
to ship adulterated foods that pose serious health risks into the US; limited
new record keeping and access for the purpose of determining whether a
food poses a serious health threat, and to trace the immediate source and
distribution of suspect food; new establishment registration requirements
that will be determined in an 18-month rulemaking process; and a new prior
notice requirement for imported foods.
-
- Cady added, however: "These new food authorities
in this legislation are not perfect, and we remain concerned about how
they will be implemented.
-
- "The burden will be on FDA to make sure the implementation
is on schedule and works well."
-
- http://just-food.com/news_detail.asp?art=49636&dm=yes
|
