HELP Committee Passes Bill to Strengthen Public Faith in Food Supply
Congressional Desk
December 18, 2009
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee supported a bill that will help prevent food borne illness and give the Food and Drug Administration new, modern authorities to address food safety problems.
The HELP Committee unanimously approved S. 510, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. Enzi was a co-sponsor of the bill.
"Food safety is not a partisan issue – we all want the safest food supply possible," said Enzi. "The United States has one of the best food safety systems in the world. But even in the best of systems, there is always room for improvement. We have the tools, the expert knowledge and the innovative spirit to find better and more reliable systems to protect the public health from contaminated food."
Senator Enzi worked to include language that directs the FDA to work harder at partnering with states on food safety, protect the needs of small businesses, and ensure that foods regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, such as fresh meats, remain regulated by the Department of Agriculture.
The bill would: improve preventive controls and import identification, increase inspection frequency, give the FDA authority to make mandatory recalls if companies fail to voluntarily recall products that pose serious health consequences, and increase funding for the FDA food safety programs.
The HELP Committee unanimously approved S. 510, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. Enzi was a co-sponsor of the bill.
"Food safety is not a partisan issue – we all want the safest food supply possible," said Enzi. "The United States has one of the best food safety systems in the world. But even in the best of systems, there is always room for improvement. We have the tools, the expert knowledge and the innovative spirit to find better and more reliable systems to protect the public health from contaminated food."
Senator Enzi worked to include language that directs the FDA to work harder at partnering with states on food safety, protect the needs of small businesses, and ensure that foods regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, such as fresh meats, remain regulated by the Department of Agriculture.
The bill would: improve preventive controls and import identification, increase inspection frequency, give the FDA authority to make mandatory recalls if companies fail to voluntarily recall products that pose serious health consequences, and increase funding for the FDA food safety programs.
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