On the Senate side, the “FDA Food Safety Modernization Act” was introduced on March 3 by Senate Assistant Majority Leader Richard Durbin (D-IL) and a bipartisan group of Senators from thee committee with responsibility for amendments to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
On the House side a discussion draft, the “Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009,” was released on May 226 by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. This bill is a successor to legislation introduced in January by Rep. John Dingell (D-MI).
The 32-page memorandum, from IFDA Legal Counsel Olsson Frank Weeda, provides detailed comparisons of the main provisions of the two bills. Passage of food safety legislation in 2009 is possible, especially if key members of Congress are willing to compromise on controversial provisions in these bills, according to IFDA. The Obama Administration appears to be strongly supportive of such legislation.
Click here to access the document comparing Durbin’s and Waxman’s bills.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.