Industry praises passage of Food Safety Modernization Act by House

WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed the Food Safety Modernization Act by a vote of 215-144 to wide industry aplomb.

The bill now only needs President Barack Obama’s signature to become law.

If signed into law, the food safety bill will require biennial registration of all food manufacturing facilities, will provide the Food and Drug Administration with new authority to mandate food recalls and will require companies to develop food safety plans.

“Food retailers and wholesalers believe that given today’s global marketplace, it is critical to provide the FDA with the authority to recall products when necessary,” stated Food Marking Institute president and CEO Leslie Sarasin. “We also support the use of third-party certification programs and the requirement that every food manufacturer or producer develop and employ food safety plans.”

“The dietary supplement industry, which is regulated as a category of food under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, is committed to supporting efforts that ensure consumers have access to safe and high-quality dietary supplement products,” stated Steve Mister, president and CEO of the Council for Responsible Nutrition. “CRN and its member companies have supported this bill because of the added enforcement tools it provides to [the] FDA and the extra protections it provides for consumers.”