Lawmakers Concerned About Food Safety Bill
Posted on: Monday, 27 March 2006, 21:00 CST
By Bill Jackson, Greeley Tribune, Colo.
Mar. 25--A bill passed by the U.S. House has raised concerns among some state leaders about the future of food safety.
HR 4167, the National Uniformity for Food Act, passed through the House earlier this month -- without hearings -- by a 283-139 margin. Colorado Republicans Marilyn Musgrave, Bob Beauprez, Joel Hefley, and Tom Tancredo voted for the bill. Democrats Mark Udall and Diana DeGette voted against while Democrat John Salazar, who was a co-sponsor of the bill, did not vote.
A similar bill is being prepared by the U.S. Senate.
Don Ament, the state's commissioner of agriculture, said the bill would preempt state regulations that protect citizens.
"This bill goes against state rights issues," Ament said. He said the bill would no longer allow the state to formulate laws and rules concerning the labeling of foods, animal feeds, feed additives and new animal drugs. It directs the Food and Drug Administration to consider interstate commerce, but Ament said it would override all state food laws that are more stringent than federal laws.
In a letter sent to the Colorado Congressional delegation, Ament said "preempting state regulatory agencies from having autonomy to address food and animal safety concerns compromises public and animal health."
Musgrave --who said the bill got the backing from several agricultural groups such as the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the National Association of Wheat Growers, ConAgra Foods, Cargill and a long list of others -- said central to the bill is the issue of interstate commerce.
"Congress has a constitutional authority to regulate trade among states. It would be an unreasonable burden to force food producers to comply with a diverse patchwork of 50 state labeling regulations," she said in a statement.
Ament disagrees.
"States vary. The way you raise chickens, or beef, or hogs, may not be the same way I do. To assume one measure will address all just isn't going to go," Ament said.
Musgrave said one standard for labeling makes sense, "otherwise the number of regulations would grow too complex and complicated." She also said the bill will keep prices lower for consumers on everyday food items.
But the Consumers Union disagrees, noting the FDA is not capable of handling the demands of the bill. Consumers Union is an independent, non-profit organization that publishes Consumer Reports magazine and serves as a consumer watchdog.
It said the bill could lead to increased food-borne illnesses by handcuffing local and state food safety inspectors and wiping out at least 200 state labeling and food safety laws without guaranteeing strong federal protections.
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Source: Greeley Tribune, Colorado
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