Food Import Bill Introduced in House

September 28, 2007 - A bill that would mandate new user fees for imported food, require labels for meat and poultry packaging utilizing reduced oxygen formats and limit ports where food can be imported to 13 locales in close proximity to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labs has been introduced in the House. H.R. 3610, The Food and Drug Import Safety Act of 2007, was sponsored by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (Mich.) and Rep. Bart Stupak (Mich.).

Additionally, the bill requires country of origin labels for all food, provides mandatory recall authority and requires foreign facility certification. While the measure is largely within the domain of the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act, several of the provisions will directly impact the meat and poultry industry.

A copy of the bill can be accessed at www.meatami.com/storylinks/2007/dingellimport92107.pdf.
Reprinted from American Meat Institute

<< Back