House Approves New Food Safety Legislation

The House of Representatives Thursday passed legislation to require more frequent inspections of processing plants and to give the government the authority to order food recalls.

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The bill (H.R. 2749, Dingell-Waxman) passed on a 283 to 142 vote, after lawmakers from rural districts won concessions exempting farms from paying registration fees and curbing FDA’s access to farm records. The concessions would also limit FDA’s ability to set standards for production only on foods with a high risk of becoming contaminated. Passage in the House means the Senate likely will take the issue up this fall.

The measure would require FDA inspections every six to 12 months at “high-risk” food processing plants, including those that have had food safety issues previously or plants that handle easily spoiled food. Plants with lower risks would be inspected once every three years, and packaged food warehouses once every five years.

Additional provisions include stricter inspections on imported foods and a requirement that processing plants create safety plans to stop contamination issues before they arise. The FDA also would create a traceability system to make it easier to get to the source of food contamination.

FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg is expected to announce today new guidelines aimed at preventing leafy green, tomato, and melon contamination, as well.

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Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:

Just another nail in the coffin for US farmers. Let the industry develop its own food safety program. Many of us are already working towards better food safety on our farms. Instead of helping farmers become more competitive our government is regulating us right out of business. It seems our lawmakers never consider the “collateral damage” they cause with every new piece of legislation and the regulations they shove down our throats.

Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:

Tony is right. The FDA and congress will see Americans starving before to long, when they put all of the Farms out of business.

Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:

I’ve seen this news item a couple of times now but nowhere in the article does it give the HR number. Also the companion bill has not gotten out of the Senate. Let’s hope it doesn’t.Why does the govt need to pass such sweeping regulation? For the control of course. The Dems want control and as long as you vote them in you are letting them do as they wish. They have always wanted more control over the people. What I don’t understand is why they haven’t passed laws on things that kill more people each year than contaminated food. What about alcohol? I’ll bet as I type this someone is being killed in the country by a drunk driver. Because it isn’t control. Think people.

Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:

It’s the H.R. 2749, Dingell-Waxman bill.

Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:

What is the number of the Senate’s companion bill?

Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:

I will let my senators know of my opposition to this bill although I don’t think it will do any good as they are both Dems and want the control.

Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:

The Senate has reviewed the House bill, but hasn’t come up with its own version yet.

Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:

Just another nail in the coffin for US farmers. Let the industry develop its own food safety program. Many of us are already working towards better food safety on our farms. Instead of helping farmers become more competitive our government is regulating us right out of business. It seems our lawmakers never consider the “collateral damage” they cause with every new piece of legislation and the regulations they shove down our throats.

Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:

Tony is right. The FDA and congress will see Americans starving before to long, when they put all of the Farms out of business.

Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:

I’ve seen this news item a couple of times now but nowhere in the article does it give the HR number. Also the companion bill has not gotten out of the Senate. Let’s hope it doesn’t.Why does the govt need to pass such sweeping regulation? For the control of course. The Dems want control and as long as you vote them in you are letting them do as they wish. They have always wanted more control over the people. What I don’t understand is why they haven’t passed laws on things that kill more people each year than contaminated food. What about alcohol? I’ll bet as I type this someone is being killed in the country by a drunk driver. Because it isn’t control. Think people.

Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:

It’s the H.R. 2749, Dingell-Waxman bill.

Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:

What is the number of the Senate’s companion bill?

Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:

I will let my senators know of my opposition to this bill although I don’t think it will do any good as they are both Dems and want the control.

Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:

The Senate has reviewed the House bill, but hasn’t come up with its own version yet.

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