A bill to comprehensively overhaul the nation’s food safety programs is moving through the U.S. House of Representatives.  The bill – HR 2749 – known as the “Food Safety Enhancement Act” was introduced in response to recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food safety problems such as the most recent pistachio and peanut butter salmonella scare.  The bill would increase inspections at certain food facilities and allow the FDA to impose civil penalties.  Currently the FDA cannot impose civil penalties for violations.  

The bill originally would have imposed significant fees on companies food facilities - $1,000 annually for each facility – but after strong industry opposition including AWMA, the Subcommittee agreed to a yearly charge of $500.  The annual cap was also fixed to ensure that no single firm would pay more than $175,000 to the FDA.  These fees would go to pay for the enhanced food safety programs to be instituted in this legislation.

Among the other provision in the measure, the bill would require inspections every six to 18 months for high-risk facilities, every 18 months to three years for low-risk facilities and every three to four years for warehouses.  

The measure was recently approved by the House Subcommittee on Health and must now be considered by the full Energy and Commerce Committee.