Friday August 20, 2010

Senate To Consider Food Safety Legislation

Washington, DC — A vote could come as early as next month on a legislative proposal that would give the FDA the power to order a food recall rather than request one, and would increase the frequency of inspections at processing plants, sources say.

A bipartisan group of senators has reached an agreement on the proposal, which would require food facilities to have risk-based preventative control plans to identify hazards. Also, it would force importers to verify the safety of foreign suppliers and imported foods, allowing the FDA to require certification for some foods.

Further, the bill would give the FDA additional resources to hire more inspectors, with funding coming from greater appropriations and targeted fees for food facilities.

Additionally, the legislation would provide training on compliance with new requirements, enhance surveillance systems to detect foodborne illness and establish a traceback program to track foods in the event of an outbreak.

The House already passed a food safety bill in 2009, and supporters are reportedly lobbying the Senate to hold a vote on its own version in September, which would then have to be reconciled by the House.