Currently, there are five different pieces of legislation regarding food safety:
S.654, S.1274, S.1292 H.R.1148, H.R.2108
As of May 24, 2007. This summary is necessarily concise. To learn about each bill, I'd recommend following the links that are provided.
Looking at each bill, here's a summary:
S.654. "A bill to establish the Food Safety Administration to protect the public health by preventing food-borne illness, ensuring the safety of food, improving research on contaminants leading to food-borne illness, and improving security of food from intentional contamination, and for other purposes." This bill was introduced by Senator Durbin (Ill.). It is currently in the
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. For details of this bill, see
http://senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/b_three_sections_with_teasers/active_leg_page.htm (scroll down to "food safety" and click on the bill number).
S.1274. "A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the safety of food for humans and pets." This bill was introduced by Senator Durbin (Ill.). It has currently been referred to
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. This bill is less comprehensive than S.654.
For detailed information about this bill
http://senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/b_three_sections_with_teasers/active_leg_page.htm (scroll down to "food safety" and click on the bill number).
S.1292. "A bill to amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act to improve the safety of meat and poultry products by enhancing the ability of the Secretary of Agriculture to retrieve the history, use, and location of a meat or poultry product through a recordkeeping and audit system or registered identification, and for other purposes." This bill was introduced by Senator Schumer (NY.). It has currently been referred to
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. For details on this bill
http://senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/b_three_sections_with_teasers/active_leg_page.htm (scroll down to "food safety" and click on the bill number).
HR.1148. "Safe Food Act of 2007 - Establishes the Food Safety Administration to administer and enforce food safety laws. Directs the Administrator of the Food Safety Administration to: (1) promulgate regulations to ensure the security of the food supply from all forms of contamination; (2) implement federal food safety inspection, enforcement, and research efforts to protect the public health; (3) develop consistent and science-based standards for safe food; and (4) prioritize federal food safety efforts and deployment of resources to achieve the greatest possible benefit in reducing food-borne illness. Transfers to the Administration all functions of specified federal agencies that relate to the administration or enforcement of food safety laws.security of food from intentional contamination, and for other purposes." This bill was introduced by Representative DeLauro (CT.). This bill is currently in
House Agriculture Committee. For details of this legislation
http://senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/b_three_sections_with_teasers/active_leg_page.htm (scroll down to "food safety" and click on the bill number).
HR.2108. "To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the safety of food for humans and pets." This bill was introduced by Represenative DeLauro (CT.). This bill is currently in
House Committee on Energy and Commerce.For details on the bill
http://senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/b_three_sections_with_teasers/active_leg_page.htm (scroll down to "food safety" and click on the bill number).
Also see the thread on this subject:
http://itchmoforums.com/index.php?topic=589.0
