Food Safety Bill Expected After Thanksgiving

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What’s Congress up to as this Lame Duck heads into its second week? 

Congress gets back to work on Monday following the Thanksgiving recess. When business resumes, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid promises that they’re going to finish the Food Safety Modernization Act. The act would give the Food and Drug Administration more authority to recall tainted products and regulate imported food. It also would increase inspections of food processors and require producers to follow stricter standards for keeping food safe.  To read this bill for yourself, CLICK HERE

Critics say it will create higher compliance costs for smaller producers, putting them at a competitive disadvantage against corporate farmers and producers who can more easily absorb costs, fees, and possible fines.  Among many components, the bill would give the Food and Drug Administration stronger enforcement powers in overseeing 80 percent of the nation’s food supply.

CLICK HERE for more on the bill from The Christian Science Monitor.

Wyoming Senator Mike Enzi is a cosponsor.  Bill managers are reportedly still grappling with an amendment by Montana Senator Jon Tester that would exempt many small farm operations and food processors from FDA oversight and leave them to whatever state or local oversight exists.

 

© Northern Ag Network 2010

Haylie Shipp

 

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