Lawmakers to seek single U.S. food safety agency
WASHINGTON, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Congress will be asked to create a single independent agency to oversee food safety out
of the half-dozen entities now in charge, congressional aides and consumer groups said Monday.
Proponents said a single agency would lead to more uniform rules and stronger enforcement of food inspection and safety laws.
Senator Richard Durbin, Illinois Democrat, and Representative Vic Fazio, number three on the House Democratic leadership
team, were set to announce the bill at a news conference on Tuesday, the sources said.
At present, the Food and Drug Administration is in charge of inspecting processed foods, the Agriculture Department oversees
meat inspection and seafood is shared by FDA, the Commerce Department and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Major consumer groups were expected to support the bill, but it was likely to be received skeptically by lawmakers who now
hold jurisdiction over food inspection.
A congressional aide said the bill was intended to streamline food inspection but would not change enforcement powers.
Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said, ''it's worthwhile exploring'' the idea of a single agency and noted money had been
appropriated for a National Academy of Sciences study this fiscal year of the issue. ''Let's see what they say,'' he said.
Glickman said the debate could turn into ''a turf fight'' for control of food inspection that might ''push out more substantive
issues'' of food safety.
''In the meantime, we have to make sure we do is have all the tools available to use to properly enforce current laws,'' he said.
An administration proposal for more power to keep suspect meat off the market has run into strong opposition from trade
groups and farm-state lawmakers., |
