Food Safety Bill Moves Forward in the Senate
The Senate has voted to end a filibuster of S. 510, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, that was introduced in March of 2009 in response to a number of national foodborne outbreaks, including the Salmonella outbreak linked to peanut products. That outbreak sickened over 700 people and killed 9. Our law firm is representing three of the families who lost loved ones in that outbreak and several of the victims who survived.
Debate on the bill may start tomorrow, barring any political sparring. We urge readers to contact their U.S. Senators and ask them to support the bill.
Here is a summary of the bill found on THOMAS, legislative information from the Library of Congress:
Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to expand the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to regulate food, including by authorizing the Secretary to: (1) suspend the registration of a food facility; and (2) order a cessation of distribution, or a recall, of food.
Requires each food facility to evaluate hazards and implement preventive controls.
Directs the Secretary to allocate inspection resources based on the risk profile of food facilities or food.
Requires the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture to prepare the National Agriculture and Food Defense Strategy.
Directs the Secretary to assess and collect fees related to: (1) food facility reinspection; (2) food recalls; and (3) the voluntary qualified importer program.
Requires the Secretary to: (1) recognize bodies that accredit food testing laboratories; (2) identify preventive programs and practices to promote the safety and security of food; and (3) improve the capacity of the Secretary to track and trace raw agricultural commodities.
Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to enhance foodborne illness surveillance systems.
Provides for: (1) foreign supplier verification activities; (2) a voluntary qualified importer program; and (3) the inspection of foreign facilities registered to import food.
