FOOD SAFETY

ASA Position

ASA believes that soybean farmers have an obligation and commitment to produce a safe, nutritious product for domestic and international consumers. We support Congressional efforts to strengthen the country’s food and animal feed safety systems based upon sound science and a risk-based approach. ASA has concerns about on-farm record-keeping requirements in the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 (H.R. 2749), under consideration in the House. 

Background

The House Energy and Commerce Committee passed H.R. 2749 on June 17, 2009. As drafted, this legislation would give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversight of many on-farm production activities. ASA and other farm groups have concerns about on-farm provisions in the bill. For soybean farmers, these concerns include provisions expanding FDA’s access to records. For the first time, upon request and presentation of credentials, a federal official would have access to and the right to copy all records, including production and sales records that may be related in any way to food or feed safety. FDA would be allowed to require farmers to retain such production and sales records for up to three years. Potentially, farm records would need to be kept electronically and be interoperable throughout the food chain to facilitate traceability within two business days.

Concerns with H.R. 2749 for other agricultural stakeholders include quarantine authority, delegation of authorities to regional FDA offices, and confidentiality.

Other agricultural stakeholders, including some fruit and vegetable producers and the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), support food safety reform legislation, following high-profile food safety incidents.

The Senate has indicated it will consider its own version of food safety legislation in the fall. The most likely bill to be considered is S. 510, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009, sponsored by Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL). S. 510 specifically exempts farms from its record-keeping requirements.

The Obama Administration created a Food Safety Working Group in March 2009 to advise the President on how to upgrade U.S. food safety laws for the 21^st century, foster coordination of food safety efforts throughout the government, and ensure laws are being adequately enforced to keep the American people safe from foodborne illness. The Working Group is co-chaired by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. The Working Group has released plans to reduce illness caused by salmonella and reduce the presence of E. coli in beef, leafy greens, melons, and tomatoes. It has also announced plans to improve the national traceback and response system, including development of industry product tracing systems.