Why are farmers critical of the latest food safety bill in Congress?
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is urging members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee to address unresolved issues in a proposed food safety bill before moving it forward. The Food Safety and Enhancement Act of 2009, introduced by Reps. John Dingell (D-Mich.) and Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), would pose a myriad of unintended consequences especially for the meat industry which is regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). “The United States has the safest food supply in the world,” said Kristina Butts, NCBA manager, legislative affairs. “Any changes to that system should be carefully considered to ensure they provide additional benefits without detracting from successful processes.” Among other things, the bill would authorize the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct on-farm inspections, undermining USDA’s regulatory authority in ensuring the safety of meat and poultry products. FDA does not have the money, employees, or expertise to properly ov
