Legislation to overhaul the nation's food safety regulatory system is moving rapidly in Congress, and SFA is working closely with industry allies to oppose provisions that would be harmful to companies in the snack food industry.
The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee approved a bill June 10 that would increase inspections at high-risk facilities, allow the Food and Drug Administration to impose criminal and civil penalties and impose user fees to help finance the food inspection system. The panel reduced the annual facility registration fee from $1,000 to $500 and approved a $175,000 annual fee limit per company.
SFA wrote to the committee expressing concern about the $1,000 per facility fee, noting that the snack food industry has invested "millions of dollars in food safety systems." Other bills are under consideration as well, and SFA's government affairs team is staying abreast of these developments. Contact Jim McCarthy at (703) 836-4500, ext. 201.