Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) issued the following statement praising the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announcement that the first two new regulations to help ensure the safety and security of foods in the United States will be implemented in July:
“I am pleased that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration this week announced two new regulations that will help ensure the safety and security of foods in the United States. The rules are the first to be issued by the FDA under the new authorities granted to the agency by my legislation, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which was signed into law by President Obama in January.
“Thanks to this new law and the regulations announced today, FDA will be able to detain foods that it has reason to believe is adulterated or misbranded, a commonsense consumer protection measure that was previously lacking. Additionally, FDA will now require anyone importing food into the United States to inform FDA if any other country has refused entry to the same shipment, including food for animals. These commonsense regulations will go a long way towards protecting our nation’s food supply.
“Recent events, such as eggs contaminated with Salmonella and ground beef contaminated with E. coli, have shown the pressing need to ensure our nation’s food supply remains safe to eat. The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act is supported by a wide variety of consumer and industry stakeholders, and passed the House and Senate by strong, bipartisan margins.
“These regulations are helpful first steps as we begin to implement this law building a better and stronger system that will appropriately protect the nation’s food supply. I look forward to working with my Congressional colleagues and the FDA to ensure implemental of this law and further regulations best protect the safety and security of our nation’s food supply.”
To view the FDA announcement, please go to: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm253983.htm
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