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• Paragraph 72 (1 comments)

HR 1332 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the safety of the food supply.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

March 5, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. COSTA (for himself, Mr. PUTNAM, Mr. PETERSON, Mr. DEAL of Georgia, Mr. CARDOZA, Mr. BARTON of Texas, Mr. FARR, Mr. SHIMKUS, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. RADANOVICH, Mr. THOMPSON of California, Mr. TERRY, Mr. SALAZAR, Mr. BOSWELL, Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN, Mr. WALDEN, Mr. CUELLAR, Mr. KAGEN, Mr. SCOTT of Georgia, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. BURGESS, and Mr. BACA) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the safety of the food supply.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCES; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the ‘Safe Food Enforcement, Assessment, Standards, and Targeting Act of 2009’ or as the ‘Safe FEAST Act of 2009’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) References- Except as otherwise specified, whenever in this Act an amendment is expressed in terms of an amendment to a section or other provision, the reference shall be construed to be made to a section or other provision of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Table of Contents- The table of contents of this Act is as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 1. Short title; references; table of contents.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE I--GENERAL FOOD PROVISIONS

Sec. 101. Inspection of records during food-related emergencies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 102. Registration of food facilities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 103. Mandatory recall authority.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 104. Hazard analysis and risk-based preventive controls.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 105. Performance standards.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 106. Standards for the safety of fruits and vegetables.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 107. Targeting of inspection resources for domestic facilities, foreign facilities, and ports of entry; annual report.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 108. Administrative detention of food.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 109. National agriculture and food defense strategy.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 110. Food and Agriculture Coordinating Councils.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 111. Authority to collect fees.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE II--DETECTION AND SURVEILLANCE

Sec. 201. Recognition of laboratory accreditation for analyses of foods.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 202. Integrated consortium of laboratory networks.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 203. Building domestic capacity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 204. Enhancing traceback and recordkeeping.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 205. Surveillance.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE III--SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR IMPORTED FOOD

Sec. 301. Foreign supplier verification program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 302. Voluntary qualified importer program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 303. Authority to require import certifications for food.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 304. Prior notice of imported food shipments.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 305. Review of a regulatory authority of a foreign country.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 306. Building capacity of foreign governments with respect to food.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 307. Inspection of foreign food facilities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 308. Third-party accreditation of qualified auditors and audit agents.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 309. Jurisdiction; authorities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE I--GENERAL FOOD PROVISIONSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 101. INSPECTION OF RECORDS DURING FOOD-RELATED EMERGENCIES.

(a) In General- Section 414 (21 U.S.C. 350c) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by redesignating subsections (b), (c), and (d) as subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Records Inspections During Food-Related Emergencies- If the Secretary has a reasonable belief that an article of food presents a threat of serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals, during a food-related emergency, the Secretary--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) may have access to and copy all records relating to such article of food in the same manner and for the same purpose as described in subsection (a); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) shall, from each person (excluding farms and restaurants) who manufactures, processes, packs, distributes, receives, holds, or imports an article of food related to the article of food referred to under paragraph (1) (such as an article of food produced on the same manufacturing line or any other article of food that the Secretary reasonably believes is likely to be affected in a similar manner) at the request of an officer or employee duly designated by the Secretary, have permission for such officer or employee, upon presentation of appropriate credentials and a written notice to such person, at reasonable times and within reasonable limits and in a reasonable manner, to have access to and copy all records relating to such article that are needed to assist the Secretary in determining whether the food presents a threat of serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Conforming Amendments-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Section 301(e) (21 U.S.C. 331(e)) is amended by striking ‘414(b)’ and inserting ‘414(c)’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Section 704(a)(1) (21 U.S.C. 374(a)(1)) is amended by striking ‘414(d)’ and inserting ‘414(e)’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 102. REGISTRATION OF FOOD FACILITIES.

(a) Updating of Food Category Regulations; Biennial Registration Renewal- Section 415(a) (21 U.S.C. 350d(a)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (2), by--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) striking ‘conducts business and’ and inserting ‘conducts business, the e-mail address for the contact person of the facility, and’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) inserting ‘, or any other food categories as determined appropriate by the Secretary, including by guidance)’ after ‘Code of Federal Regulations’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) BIENNIAL REGISTRATION RENEWAL- During the period beginning on October 1 and ending on December 31 of each even-numbered year, a registrant that has submitted a registration under paragraph (1) shall submit to the Secretary a renewal registration containing the information described in paragraph (2). The Secretary shall provide for an abbreviated registration renewal process for any registrant that has not had any changes to such information since the registrant submitted the preceding registration or registration renewal for the facility involved.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Suspension of Registration-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Section 415 (21 U.S.C. 350d) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in subsection (a)(2), by inserting after the first sentence the following: ‘The registration shall contain a consent to permit the Secretary to inspect such facility.’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Suspension of Registration-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- If the Secretary determines that food manufactured, processed, packed, or held by a facility registered under this section has a reasonable probability of causing serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals, the Secretary may by order suspend the registration of the facility under this section in accordance with this subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) HEARING ON SUSPENSION- The Secretary shall provide the registrant subject to an order under paragraph (1) with an opportunity for an informal hearing, to be held as soon as possible but not later than 2 days after the issuance of the order, on the actions required for reinstatement of registration and why the registration that is subject to suspension should be reinstated. The Secretary shall reinstate a registration if the Secretary determines, based on evidence presented, that adequate grounds do not exist to continue the suspension of the registration.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) POST-HEARING CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN; VACATING OF ORDER-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN- If, after providing opportunity for an informal hearing under paragraph (2), the Secretary determines that the suspension of registration remains necessary, the Secretary shall require the registrant to submit a corrective action plan to demonstrate how the registrant plans to correct the conditions found by the Secretary. The Secretary shall review such plan in a timely manner.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) VACATING OF ORDER- Upon a determination by the Secretary that adequate grounds do not exist to continue the suspension actions required by the order, or that such actions should be modified, the Secretary shall vacate the order or modify the order.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) EFFECT OF SUSPENSION- If the registration of a facility is suspended under this subsection, such facility shall not import food or offer to import food into the United States, or otherwise introduce food into interstate commerce in the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(5) REGULATIONS- The Secretary shall promulgate regulations that describe the standards officials will use in making a determination to suspend a registration, and the format such officials will use to explain to the registrant the conditions found at the facility.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(6) NO DELEGATION- The authority conferred by this subsection to issue an order to suspend a registration or vacate an order of suspension shall not be delegated to any officer or employee other than the Commissioner.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) IMPORTED FOOD- Section 801(l) (21 U.S.C. 381(l)) is amended by inserting ‘(or for which a registration has been suspended under such section)’ after ‘section 415’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Conforming Amendments-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Section 301(d) (21 U.S.C. 331(d)) is amended by inserting ‘415,’ after ‘404,’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Section 415(d), as redesignated by subsection (b), is amended by adding at the end before the period ‘for a facility to be registered, except with respect to the reinstatement of a registration that is suspended under subsection (b)’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 103. MANDATORY RECALL AUTHORITY.

(a) In General- Chapter IV (21 U.S.C. 341 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 418. MANDATORY RECALL AUTHORITY.

‘(a) Voluntary Procedures- If the Secretary determines, based on information gathered through the reportable food registry under section 417 or through any other means, that there is a reasonable probability that an article of food (other than infant formula) is adulterated under section 402 or misbranded under section 403(w) and the use of or exposure to such article will cause serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals, the Secretary shall provide the responsible party (as defined in section 417) with an opportunity to cease distribution and recall such article.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Prehearing Order To Cease Distribution and Give Notice- If the responsible party refuses to or does not voluntarily cease distribution or recall such article within the time and in the manner prescribed by the Secretary (if so prescribed), the Secretary may, by order require, as the Secretary deems necessary, such person to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) immediately cease distribution of such article; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) immediately notify all persons--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) manufacturing, processing, packing, transporting, distributing, receiving, holding, or importing and selling such article; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) to which such article has been distributed, transported, or sold, to immediately cease distribution of such article.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Hearing on Order- The Secretary shall provide the responsible party subject to an order under subsection (b) with an opportunity for an informal hearing, to be held as soon as possible but not later than 2 days after the issuance of the order, on the actions required by the order and on why the article that is the subject of the order should not be recalled.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Post-Hearing Recall Order and Modification of Order-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) AMENDMENT OF ORDER- If, after providing opportunity for an informal hearing under subsection (c), the Secretary determines that removal of the article from commerce is necessary, the Secretary shall, as appropriate--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) amend the order to require recall of such article or other appropriate action;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) specify a timetable in which the recall shall occur;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) require periodic reports to the Secretary describing the progress of the recall; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) provide notice to consumers to whom such article was, or may have been, distributed.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) VACATING OF ORDER- If, after such hearing, the Secretary determines that adequate grounds do not exist to continue the actions required by the order, or that such actions should be modified, the Secretary shall vacate the order or modify the order.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(e) Cooperation and Consultation- The Secretary shall work with State and local public health officials in carrying out this section, as appropriate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(f) Public Notification- In conducting a recall under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that a press release is published regarding the recall, as well as alerts and public notices, as appropriate, in order to provide notification of the recall to consumers and retailers to whom such article was, or may have been, distributed. The notification shall include, at a minimum--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) the name of the article of food subject to the recall; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) a description of the risk associated with such article.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(g) No Delegation- The authority conferred by this section to order a recall or vacate a recall order shall not be delegated to any officer or employee other than the Commissioner.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(h) Effect- Nothing in this section shall affect the authority of the Secretary to request or participate in a voluntary recall.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Prohibited Acts- Section 301 (21 U.S.C. 331 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(oo) The refusal or failure to follow an order under section 418.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 104. HAZARD ANALYSIS AND RISK-BASED PREVENTIVE CONTROLS.

(a) In General- Chapter IV (21 U.S.C. 341 et seq.), as amended by section 103, is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 419. HAZARD ANALYSIS AND RISK-BASED PREVENTIVE CONTROLS.

‘(a) In General- Each owner, operator, or agent in charge of a facility shall, in accordance with this section, evaluate the hazards that could affect food manufactured, processed, packed, or held by such facility, identify and implement preventive controls to significantly minimize or prevent their occurrence and provide assurances that such food is not adulterated under section 402 or misbranded under section 403(w), monitor the performance of those controls, and maintain records of this monitoring as a matter of routine practice.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Hazard Analysis- The owner, operator, or agent in charge of a facility shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) identify and evaluate known or reasonably foreseeable hazards that may be associated with the facility, including--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) biological, chemical, physical, and radiological hazards, natural toxins, pesticides, drug residues, decomposition, parasites, allergens, and unapproved food and color additives; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) hazards that occur naturally, may be unintentionally introduced, or may be intentionally introduced, including by acts of terrorism; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) develop a written analysis of the hazards.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Preventive Controls- The owner, operator, or agent in charge of a facility shall identify and implement preventive controls, including at critical control points, if any, to provide assurances that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) hazards identified in the hazard analysis conducted under subsection (b) will be significantly minimized or prevented; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) the food manufactured, processed, packed, or held by such facility will not be adulterated under section 402 or misbranded under section 403(w).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Monitoring of Effectiveness- The owner, operator, or agent in charge of a facility shall monitor the effectiveness of the preventive controls implemented under subsection (c) to provide assurances that the outcomes described in subsection (c) shall be achieved.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(e) Corrective Actions- The owner, operator, or agent in charge of a facility shall establish procedures that a facility will implement if the preventive controls implemented under subsection (c) are found to be ineffective through monitoring under subsection (d).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(f) Verification- The owner, operator, or agent in charge of a facility shall verify that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) the preventive controls implemented under subsection (c) are adequate to control the hazards identified under subsection (b);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) the owner, operator, or agent is conducting monitoring in accordance with subsection (d);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) the owner, operator, or agent is making appropriate decisions about corrective actions taken under subsection (e); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) there is documented, periodic reanalysis of the plan under subsection (i) to ensure that the plan is still relevant to the raw materials, as well as to conditions and processes in the facility, and to new and emerging threats.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(g) Recordkeeping- The owner, operator, or agent in charge of a facility shall maintain, for not less than 2 years, records documenting the monitoring of the preventive controls implemented under subsection (c), instances of nonconformance material to food safety, instances when corrective actions were implemented, and the efficacy of preventive controls and corrective actions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(h) Written Plan and Documentation- Each owner, operator, or agent in charge of a facility shall prepare a written plan that documents and describes the procedures used by the facility to comply with the requirements of this section, including analyzing the hazards under subsection (b) and identifying the preventive controls adopted to address those hazards under subsection (c). High-risk facilities, as determined by the Secretary, shall submit such written plan to the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. The Secretary or a duly authorized representative of the Secretary may review the plan and may make recommendations regarding the effectiveness of the plan in preventing or minimizing the threat of serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals. All facilities shall promptly make available such written plan, together with documentation that the plan is being implemented, to a duly authorized representative of the Secretary upon oral or written request.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) Requirement To Reanalyze- Each owner, operator, or agent in charge of a facility shall conduct a reanalysis under subsection (b) whenever a significant change is made in the activities conducted at a facility operated by such owner, operator, or agent if the change creates a reasonable potential for a new hazard or a significant increase in a previously identified hazard or not less frequently than once every 3 years, whichever is earlier. Such reanalysis shall be completed and additional preventive controls needed to address the hazard identified, if any, shall be implemented before the change in activities at the facility is commenced. Such owner, operator, or agent shall revise the written plan required under subsection (h) if such a significant change is made or document the basis for the conclusion that no additional or revised preventive controls are needed. The Secretary may require a reanalysis under this section to respond to new hazards and developments in scientific understanding.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(j) Deemed Compliance of Seafood, Juice, and Low-Acid Canned Food Facilities in Compliance With HACCP- An owner, operator, or agent in charge of a facility required to comply with 1 of the following standards and regulations with respect to such facility shall be deemed to be in compliance with this section, with respect to such facility:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) The Seafood Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points Program of the Food and Drug Administration.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) The Juice Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points Program of the Food and Drug Administration.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) The Thermally Processed Low-Acid Foods Packaged in Hermetically Sealed Containers standards of the Food and Drug Administration (or any successor standards).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(k) Exception for Facilities in Compliance With Section 420- This section shall not apply to a facility that is subject to section 420.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(l) Authority With Respect to Certain Facilities- The Secretary may, by regulation, exempt or modify the requirements for compliance under this section with respect to facilities that are solely engaged in the storage of packaged foods that are not exposed to the environment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(m) Definitions- For purposes of this section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) CRITICAL CONTROL POINT- The term ‘critical control point’ means a point, step, or procedure in a food process at which control can be applied and is essential to prevent or eliminate a food safety hazard or reduce it to an acceptable level.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) FACILITY- The term ‘facility’ means a domestic facility or a foreign facility that is required to register under section 415.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) PREVENTIVE CONTROLS- The term ‘preventive controls’ means those risk-based, reasonably appropriate procedures, practices, and processes that a person knowledgeable about the safe manufacturing, processing, packing, or holding of food would have employed to significantly minimize or prevent the hazards identified under the hazard analysis conducted under subsection (a) and that are consistent with the current scientific understanding of safe food manufacturing, processing, packing, or holding at the time of the analysis. Those procedures, practices, and processes shall include the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) Sanitation procedures for food contact surfaces and utensils and food-contact surfaces of equipment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) Supervisor, manager, and employee hygiene training.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) An environmental monitoring program to verify the effectiveness of pathogen controls.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) An allergen control program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) A recall contingency plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(F) Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(G) Supplier verification activities.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Regulations-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this Act as the ‘Secretary’) shall promulgate regulations to establish science-based minimum standards for conducting a hazard analysis, documenting hazards, implementing preventive controls, and documenting the implementation of the preventive controls under section 419 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (as added by subsection (a)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CONTENT- The regulations promulgated under paragraph (1) shall provide sufficient flexibility to be applicable in all situations, including in the operations of small businesses.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to provide the Secretary with the authority to apply specific technologies, practices, or critical controls to an individual facility.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) REVIEW- In promulgating the regulations under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall review regulatory hazard analysis and preventive control programs in existence on the date of enactment of this Act to ensure that the program under such section 419 is consistent, to the extent practicable, with applicable internationally recognized standards in existence on such date.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Guidance Document- The Secretary shall issue a guidance document related to hazard analysis and preventive controls required under section 419 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (as added by subsection (a)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Prohibited Acts- Section 301 (21 U.S.C. 331), as amended by section 103, is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(pp) The operation of a facility that manufacturers, processes, packs, or holds food for sale in the United States if the owner, operator, or agent in charge of such facility is not in compliance with section 419.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) No Effect on HACCP Authorities- Nothing in the amendments made by this section limits the authority of the Secretary under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) or the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) to revise, issue, or enforce product and category-specific regulations, such as the Seafood Hazard Analysis Critical Controls Points Program, the Juice Hazard Analysis Critical Control Program, and the Thermally Processed Low-Acid Foods Packaged in Hermetically Sealed Containers standards.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Effective Date-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) GENERAL RULE- The amendments made by this section shall take effect 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) EXCEPTIONS- Notwithstanding paragraph (1)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the amendments made by this section shall apply to a small business (as defined by the Secretary) after the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the amendments made by this section shall apply to a very small business (as defined by the Secretary) after the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 105. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.

The Secretary shall, not less frequently than every 2 years, review and evaluate relevant health data and other relevant information, including from toxicological and epidemiological studies and analyses, to determine the most significant food-borne contaminants and, when appropriate to reduce the risk of serious illness or death to humans or animals, to prevent the adulteration of the food under section 402 of the Federal Food, Drug, or Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 342), or to prevent the spread of communicable disease under the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.), shall issue contaminant-specific, science-based guidance documents, actions levels, or regulations. Such guidance documents, action levels, or regulations shall apply to products or product classes, take into account naturally occurring substances in the case of raw agricultural products, and shall not be written to be facility-specific.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 106. STANDARDS FOR THE SAFETY OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

(a) In General- Chapter IV (21 U.S.C. 341 et seq.), as amended by section 104, is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 420. STANDARDS FOR THE SAFETY OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

‘(a) Definition- For purposes of this section, the term ‘fruits and vegetables’ means raw agricultural products as defined in section 201(r).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) In General- Not later than 1 year after enactment of this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture and representatives of State departments of agriculture, shall publish a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish regulations for the safe production, harvesting, handling, and packing of those types of fruits and vegetables for which the Secretary has determined that such regulations are necessary to minimize the risk of serious adverse health consequences.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Final Regulation- Not later than 1 year after the close of the comment period on the notice of proposed rulemaking under subsection (a), the Secretary shall adopt a final regulation covering those types of fruits and vegetables for which the Secretary has determined that such regulations are necessary to minimize the risk of serious adverse health consequences. The final regulation shall provide a reasonable period of time for implementation, taking into account the needs of small businesses for additional time to comply. The final regulation shall provide for coordination of education and enforcement activities by the Secretary of Agriculture, appropriate State and local agencies, and appropriate agencies of foreign governments.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Cooperation- The Secretary shall work with State and local public health officials in carrying out this section. The Secretary shall coordinate activities with the Secretary of Agriculture related to on-farm requirements for growers including the development of food safety standards and enforcement mechanisms that will address regulations adopted under subsection (c).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(e) Criteria- The regulations adopted under subsection (b) shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) set forth such procedures, processes, and practices as the Secretary determines to be reasonably necessary to minimize the introduction of known or reasonably foreseeable biological, chemical, and physical hazards into fruits and vegetables and to provide reasonable assurance that the fruits and vegetables are not adulterated under section 402;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) permit States and foreign governments to seek variances from the requirements of the regulations, where the State or foreign government determines that the variance is necessary in light of local growing conditions and that the procedures, processes, and practices to be followed under the variance are reasonably likely to ensure that the fruits or vegetables are not adulterated within the meaning of section 402 to the same extent as the requirements of the regulation adopted under subsection (b);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) require that any State or foreign government seeking a variance under paragraph (2) shall first notify the Secretary of the intended variance and the basis for it, and the Secretary may grant the variance after 90 days of such notification if Secretary does not communicate objections or modifications to the intended variance to the respective State or foreign government prior to the conclusion of the 90-day period; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) provide for publication of notices of requests for variances under paragraph (2) at the time they are received.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(f) Enforcement- The Secretary shall coordinate enforcement under this section with appropriate State and local agencies and with appropriate agencies of foreign governments. In enforcing any standards for the safety of fruits and vegetables, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, use the Department of Agriculture and state agricultural agencies. Such enforcement may be in the form of audit-based verification systems or other methods of inspection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(g) Guidance for Good Agricultural Practices- Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall publish updated guidance, in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture and representatives of State departments of agriculture, based on the most currently available scientific evidence, for the safe production, harvesting, handling, packing, and traceability of fruits and vegetables. The Secretary shall publish subsequently updated guidance, as necessary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(h) Scope- This section shall apply to the production, harvesting, packaging, and traceability of fruits and vegetables intended for human consumption, but not to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) activities involving the further processing of fruits and vegetables which shall be subject to section 419; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) those activities that occur in a retail food establishment (as such term is defined in regulations to carry out section 415(b)(1)).’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Prohibited- Section 301 (21 U.S.C. 331), as amended by section 104, is further amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(qq) Production, harvesting, handling, and packing of fruits or vegetables not in accordance with the regulations under section 419 or a variance issued under section 419(e)(2).’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 107. TARGETING OF INSPECTION RESOURCES FOR DOMESTIC FACILITIES, FOREIGN FACILITIES, AND PORTS OF ENTRY; ANNUAL REPORT.

(a) Targeting of Inspection Resources for Domestic Facilities, Foreign Facilities, and Ports of Entry- Chapter IV (21 U.S.C. 341 et seq.), as amended by section 106, is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 421. TARGETING OF INSPECTION RESOURCES FOR DOMESTIC FACILITIES, FOREIGN FACILITIES, AND PORTS OF ENTRY; ANNUAL REPORT.

‘(a) Identification and Inspection of Facilities-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IDENTIFICATION- The Secretary shall allocate resources to inspect facilities according to the risk profile of the facilities, which shall be based on the following factors:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) The risk profile of the food manufactured, processed, packed, or held at the facility.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) The facility’s history of food recalls, outbreaks, and violations of food safety standards.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) The rigor of the facility’s hazard analysis and risk-based preventive controls.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) Whether the food manufactured, processed, packed, handled, prepared, treated, distributed, or stored at the facility meets the criteria for priority under section 801(h)(1).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) Whether the facility has received a certificate as described in section 809(b).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(F) Any other criteria deemed necessary and appropriate by the Secretary for purposes of allocating inspection resources.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) INSPECTIONS- The Secretary shall increase the frequency of inspections of all facilities such that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) all facilities registered under section 415 are inspected not less than once every 4 years; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) all facilities identified under paragraph (1) as a high-risk facility are inspected--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) not less than once within a 2-year period after the date of enactment of this section; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) for each succeeding year, each high-risk facility is inspected not less than once each year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Identification and Inspection at Ports of Entry- The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall allocate resources to inspect articles of food imported into the United States according to the risk profile of the article of food, which shall be based on the following factors:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) The risk profile of the food imported.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) The risk profile of the countries of origin and countries of transport of the food imported.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) The history of food recalls, outbreaks, and violations of food safety standards of the food importer.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) The rigor of the foreign supplier verification program under section 805.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(5) Whether the food importer participates in the Voluntary Qualified Importer Program under section 806.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(6) Whether the food meets the criteria for priority under section 801(h)(1).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(7) Whether the food is from a facility that has received a certificate as described in section 809(b).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(8) Any other criteria deemed appropriate by the Secretary for purposes of allocating inspection resources.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Coordination- The Secretary shall improve coordination and cooperation with the Secretary of Agriculture to target food inspection resources.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Facility- For purposes of this section, the term ‘facility’ means a domestic facility or a foreign facility that is required to register under section 415.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Annual Report- Section 903 (21 U.S.C. 393) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(h) Annual Report Regarding Food- Not later than February 1 of each year, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report regarding--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) information about food facilities including--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) the appropriations used to inspect facilities registered pursuant to section 415 in the previous fiscal year;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) the average cost of both a non-high-risk food facility inspection and a high-risk food facility inspection, if such a difference exists, in the previous fiscal year;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) the number of domestic facilities and the number of foreign facilities registered pursuant to section 415 that the Secretary inspected in the previous fiscal year;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) the number of domestic facilities and the number of foreign facilities registered pursuant to section 415 that the Secretary did not inspect in the previous fiscal year;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) the number of high-risk facilities identified pursuant to section 421 that the Secretary inspected in the previous fiscal year; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(F) the number of high-risk facilities identified pursuant to section 421 that the Secretary did not inspect in the previous fiscal year; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) information about food imports including--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) the number of lines of food imported into the United States that the Secretary physically inspected or sampled in the previous fiscal year;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) the number of lines of food imported into the United States that the Secretary did not physically inspect or sample in the previous fiscal year; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) the average cost of physically inspecting or sampling a food line subject to this Act that is imported or offered for import into the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) Public Availability of Annual Food Reports- The Secretary shall make the reports required under subsection (h) available to the public on the Internet Web site of the Food and Drug Administration.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 108. ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION OF FOOD.

(a) In General- Section 304(h)(1)(A) (21 U.S.C. 334(h)(1)(A)) is amended by--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) striking ‘credible evidence or information indicating’ and inserting ‘reason to believe’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) striking ‘presents a threat of serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals’ and inserting ‘is adulterated or misbranded under section 403(w)’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Regulations- Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue an interim final rule amending subpart K of part 1 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, to implement the amendment made by this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Effective Date- The amendment made by this section shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 109. NATIONAL AGRICULTURE AND FOOD DEFENSE STRATEGY.

(a) Development and Submission of Strategy-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Agriculture, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall prepare and submit to the relevant committees of Congress, and make publicly available on the Internet Web site of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture, the National Agriculture and Food Defense Strategy.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) IMPLEMENTATION PLAN- The strategy shall include an implementation plan for use by the Secretaries described under paragraph (1) in carrying out the strategy.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) RESEARCH- The strategy shall include a coordinated research agenda for use by the Secretaries described under paragraph (1) in conducting research to support the goals and activities described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) REVISIONS- Not later than 4 years after the date on which the strategy is submitted to the relevant committees of Congress under paragraph (1), and not less frequently than every 4 years thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Agriculture, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall revise and submit to the relevant committees of Congress the strategy.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) CONSISTENCY WITH EXISTING PLANS- The strategy described in paragraph (1) shall be consistent with--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the National Incident Management System;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the National Response Framework;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) the National Infrastructure Protection Plan;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) the National Preparedness Goals; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) other relevant national strategies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Components-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The strategy shall include a description of the process to be used by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Homeland Security--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) to achieve each goal described in paragraph (2); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) to evaluate the progress made by Federal, State, local, and tribal governments towards the achievement of each goal described in paragraph (2).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) GOALS- The strategy shall include a description of the process to be used by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Homeland Security to achieve the following goals:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) PREPAREDNESS GOAL- Enhance the preparedness of the agriculture and food system by--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) conducting vulnerability assessments of the agriculture and food system;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) mitigating vulnerabilities of the system;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) improving communication and training relating to the system;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iv) developing and conducting exercises to test decontamination and disposal plans;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(v) developing modeling tools to improve event consequence assessment and decision support; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(vi) preparing risk communication tools and enhancing public awareness through outreach.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) DETECTION GOAL- Improve agriculture and food system detection capabilities by--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) identifying contamination in food products at the earliest possible time; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) conducting surveillance to prevent the spread of diseases.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) EMERGENCY RESPONSE GOAL- Ensure an efficient response to agriculture and food emergencies by--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) immediately investigating animal disease outbreaks and suspected food contamination;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) preventing additional human illnesses;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) organizing, training, and equipping animal, plant, and food emergency response teams of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(I) the Federal Government; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(II) State, local, and tribal governments;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iv) designing, developing, and evaluating training and exercises carried out under agriculture and food defense plans; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(v) ensuring consistent and organized risk communication to the public by--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(I) the Federal Government;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(II) State, local, and tribal governments; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(III) the private sector.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) RECOVERY GOAL- Secure agriculture and food production after an agriculture or food emergency by--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) working with the private sector to develop business recovery plans to rapidly resume agriculture and food production;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) conducting exercises of the plans described in subparagraph (C) with the goal of long-term recovery results;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) rapidly removing, and effectively disposing of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(I) contaminated agriculture and food products; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(II) infected plants and animals; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iv) decontaminating and restoring areas affected by an agriculture or food emergency.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 110. FOOD AND AGRICULTURE COORDINATING COUNCILS.

The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Agriculture, shall within 180 days of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, submit to the relevant committees of Congress, and make publicly available on the Internet Web site of the Department of Homeland Security, a report on the activities of the Food and Agriculture Government Coordinating Council and the Food and Agriculture Sector Coordinating Council, including the progress of such Councils on--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) facilitating partnerships between public and private entities to help unify and enhance the protection of the agriculture and food system of the United States;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) providing for the regular and timely interchange of information between each council relating to the security of the agriculture and food system (including intelligence information);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) identifying best practices and methods for improving the coordination among Federal, State, local, and private sector preparedness and response plans for agriculture and food defense; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) recommending methods by which to protect the economy and the public health of the United States from the effects of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) animal or plant disease outbreaks;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) food contamination; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) natural disasters affecting agriculture and food.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 111. AUTHORITY TO COLLECT FEES.

(a) Fees for Reinspection, Recall, and Importation Activities- Subchapter C of chapter VII (21 U.S.C. 379f et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 742 the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘PART 6--FEES RELATED TO FOOD

‘SEC. 743. AUTHORITY TO COLLECT AND USE FEES.

‘(a) In General-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) PURPOSE AND AUTHORITY- For fiscal year 2010 and each subsequent fiscal year, the Secretary shall, in accordance with this section, assess and collect fees from--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) each domestic facility (as defined in section 415(b)) subject to a reinspection in such fiscal year, to cover reinspection-related costs for such year;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) each domestic facility (as defined in section 415(b)) and importer subject to a food recall in such fiscal year, to cover food recall activities performed by the Secretary, including technical assistance, follow-up effectiveness checks, and public notifications, for such year;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) each importer participating in the voluntary qualified importer program under section 806 in such year, to cover the administrative costs such program for such year; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) each importer subject to a reinspection in such fiscal year at a port of entry, to cover reinspection-related costs at ports of entry for such year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) DEFINITIONS- For purposes of this section--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) the term ‘reinspection’ means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) with respect to domestic facilities (as defined in section 415(b)), 1 or more inspections conducted under section 704 subsequent to an inspection conducted under such provision which identified noncompliance materially related to a food safety requirement of this Act, specifically to determine whether compliance has been achieved to the Secretary’s satisfaction; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) with respect to importers, 1 or more examinations conducted under section 801 subsequent to an examination conducted under such provision which identified noncompliance materially related to a food safety requirement of this Act, specifically to determine whether compliance has been achieved to the Secretary’s satisfaction; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) the term ‘reinspection-related costs’ means all expenses, including administrative expenses, incurred in connection with--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) arranging, conducting, and evaluating the results of reinspections; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) assessing and collecting reinspection fees under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Establishment of Fees-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- Subject to subsections (c) and (d), the Secretary shall establish the fees to be collected under this section for each fiscal year specified in subsection (a)(1), based on the methodology described under paragraph (2), and shall publish such fees in a Federal Register notice not later than 60 days before the start of each such year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) FEE METHODOLOGY-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) FEES- Fees amounts established for collection--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) under subparagraph (A) of subsection (a)(1) for a fiscal year shall be based on the Secretary’s estimate of 100 percent of the costs of the reinspection-related activities (including by type or level of reinspection activity, as the Secretary determines applicable) described in such subparagraph (A) for such year;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) under subparagraph (B) of subsection (a)(1) for a fiscal year shall be based on the Secretary’s estimate of 100 percent of the costs of the activities described in such subparagraph (B) for such year;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) under subparagraph (C) of subsection (a)(1) for a fiscal year shall be based on the Secretary’s estimate of 100 percent of the costs of the activities described in such subparagraph (C) for such year; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iv) under subparagraph (D) of subsection (a)(1) for a fiscal year shall be based on the Secretary’s estimate of 100 percent of the costs of the activities described in such subparagraph (D) for such year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) OTHER CONSIDERATIONS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) VOLUNTARY QUALIFIED IMPORTER PROGRAM-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) PARTICIPATION- In establishing the fee amounts under subparagraph (A)(iii) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall provide for the number of importers who have submitted to the Secretary a notice under section 806 informing the Secretary of the intent of such importer to participate in the program under section 806 in such fiscal year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(II) RECOUPMENT- In establishing the fee amounts under subparagraph (A)(iii) for the first 5 fiscal years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall include in such fee a reasonable surcharge that provides a recoupment of the costs expended by the Secretary to establish and implement the first year of the program under section 806.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) CREDITING OF FEES- In establishing the fee amounts under subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall provide for the crediting of fees from the previous year to the next year if the Secretary overestimated the amount of fees needed to carry out such activities, and consider the need to account for any adjustment of fees and such other factors as the Secretary determines appropriate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) USE OF FEES- The Secretary shall make all of the fees collected pursuant to clause (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) of paragraph (2)(A) available solely to pay for the costs referred to in such clause (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) of paragraph (2)(A), respectively.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS- Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the assessment of any fee inconsistent with the agreement establishing the World Trade Organization or any other treaty or international agreement to which the United States is a party.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Limitations-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- Fees under subsection (a) shall be refunded for a fiscal year beginning after fiscal year 2010 unless appropriations for the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and the Center for Veterinary Medicine and related activities of the Office of Regulatory Affairs at the Food and Drug Administration for such fiscal year (excluding the amount of fees appropriated for such fiscal year) are equal to or greater than the amount of appropriations for the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and the Center for Veterinary Medicine and related activities of the Office of Regulatory Affairs at the Food and Drug Administration for the preceding fiscal year (excluding the amount of fees appropriated for such fiscal year) multiplied by 1 plus 4.5 percent.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) AUTHORITY- If the Secretary does not assess fees under subsection (a) during any portion of a fiscal year because of paragraph (1) and if at a later date in such fiscal year the Secretary may assess such fees, the Secretary may assess and collect such fees, without any modification in the rate, under subsection (a), notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) relating to the date fees are to be paid.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) LIMITATION ON AMOUNT OF CERTAIN FEES-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding any other provision of this section and subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary may not collect fees in a fiscal year such that the amount collected--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) under subparagraph (B) of subsection (a)(1) exceeds $20,000,000; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) under subparagraphs (A) and (D) of subsection (a)(1) exceeds $25,000,000 combined.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) EXCEPTION- If a domestic facility (as defined in section 415(b)) or an importer becomes subject to a fee described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (D) of subsection (a)(1) after the maximum amount of fees has been collected by the Secretary under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may collect a fee from such facility or importer.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Crediting and Availability of Fees- Fees authorized under subsection (a) shall be collected and available for obligation only to the extent and in the amount provided in appropriations Acts. Such fees are authorized to remain available until expended. Such sums as may be necessary may be transferred from the Food and Drug Administration salaries and expenses account without fiscal year limitation to such appropriation account for salaries and expenses with such fiscal year limitation. The sums transferred shall be available solely for the purpose of paying the operating expenses of the Food and Drug Administration employees and contractors performing activities associated with these food safety fees.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(e) Collection of Fees-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall specify in the Federal Register notice described in subsection (b)(1) the time and manner in which fees assessed under this section shall be collected.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) COLLECTION OF UNPAID FEES- In any case where the Secretary does not receive payment of a fee assessed under this section within 30 days after it is due, such fee shall be treated as a claim of the United States Government subject to provisions of subchapter II of chapter 37 of title 31, United States Code.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(f) Annual Report to Congress- Not later than 120 days after each fiscal year for which fees are assessed under this section, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the United States Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the United States House of Representatives, to include a description of fees assessed and collected for each such year and a summary description of the entities paying such fees and the types of business in which such entities engage.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(g) Authorization of Appropriations- For fiscal year 2010 and each fiscal year thereafter, there is authorized to be appropriated for fees under this section an amount equal to the total revenue amount determined under subsection (b) for the fiscal year, as adjusted or otherwise affected under the other provisions of this section.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Export Certification Fees for Foods and Animal Feed-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) AUTHORITY FOR EXPORT CERTIFICATIONS FOR FOOD, INCLUDING ANIMAL FEED- Section 801(e)(4)(A) (21 U.S.C. 381(e)(4)(A)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ‘a drug’ and inserting ‘a food, drug’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in clause (i), by striking ‘exported drug’ and inserting ‘exported food, drug’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) in clause (ii), by striking ‘the drug’ each place it appears and inserting ‘the food, drug’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CLARIFICATION OF CERTIFICATION- Section 801(e)(4) (21 U.S.C. 381(e)(4)) is amended by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) For purposes of this paragraph, a certification by the Secretary shall be made on such basis, and in such form (including a publicly available listing) as the Secretary determines appropriate.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE II--DETECTION AND SURVEILLANCECommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 201. RECOGNITION OF LABORATORY ACCREDITATION FOR ANALYSES OF FOODS.

(a) In General- Chapter IV (21 U.S.C. 341 et seq.), as amended by section 107, is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 422. RECOGNITION OF LABORATORY ACCREDITATION FOR ANALYSES OF FOODS.

‘(a) Recognition of Laboratory Accreditation-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) provide for the recognition of accreditation bodies that accredit laboratories, including laboratories run and operated by a State or locality, with a demonstrated capability to conduct analytical testing of food products; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) establish a publicly available registry of accreditation bodies, including the name of, contact information for, and other information deemed necessary by the Secretary about such bodies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) MODEL ACCREDITATION STANDARDS- The Secretary shall develop model standards that an accreditation body shall require laboratories to meet in order to be included in the registry provided for under paragraph (1). In developing the model standards, the Secretary shall look to existing standards for guidance. The model standards shall include methods to ensure that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) appropriate sampling and analytical procedures are followed and reports of analyses are certified as true and accurate;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) internal quality systems are established and maintained;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) procedures exist to evaluate and respond promptly to complaints regarding analyses and other activities for which the laboratory is recognized;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) individuals who conduct the analyses are qualified by training and experience to do so; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) any other criteria determined appropriate by the Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) REVIEW OF ACCREDITATION- To assure compliance with the requirements of this section, the Secretary shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) periodically, or at least every 5 years, reevaluate accreditation bodies recognized under paragraph (1); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) promptly revoke the recognition of any accreditation body found not to be in compliance with the requirements of this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Testing Procedures- Food testing shall be conducted by either Federal laboratories or non-Federal laboratories that have been accredited by an accreditation body on the registry established by the Secretary under subsection (a) whenever such testing--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) is either conducted by or on behalf of an owner or consignee--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) in support of admission of an article of food under section 801(a); orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) under an Import Alert that requires successful consecutive tests; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) is required by the Secretary as the Secretary deems appropriate to identify or address a threat of serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





The results of any such testing shall be sent directly to the Food and Drug Administration.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Review by Secretary- If food testing performed by a laboratory run and operated by a State or locality that is accredited by an accreditation body on the registry established by the Secretary under subsection (a) result in a State recalling a food, the Secretary shall review the testing results for the purpose of determining the need for a national recall or other compliance and enforcement activities.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Food Emergency Response Network- The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and State, local, and tribal governments shall, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and biennially thereafter, submit to the relevant committees of Congress, and make publicly available on the Internet Web site of the Department of Health and Human Services, a report on the progress in implementing a national food emergency response laboratory network that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) provides ongoing surveillance, rapid detection, and surge capacity for large-scale food-related emergencies, including intentional adulteration of the food supply;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) coordinates the food laboratory capacities of State food laboratories, including the sharing of data between State laboratories to develop national situational awareness;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) provides accessible, timely, accurate, and consistent food laboratory services throughout the United States;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) develops and implements a methods repository for use by Federal, State, and local officials;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) responds to food-related emergencies; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) is integrated with relevant laboratory networks administered by other Federal agencies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 202. INTEGRATED CONSORTIUM OF LABORATORY NETWORKS.

(a) In General- The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall maintain an agreement through which relevant laboratory network members, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) agree on common laboratory methods in order to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and information relating to animal health, agriculture, and human health;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) identify the means by which each laboratory network member could work cooperatively--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) to optimize national laboratory preparedness; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) to provide surge capacity during emergencies; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) engage in ongoing dialogue and build relationships that will support a more effective and integrated response during emergencies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Reporting Requirement- The Secretary of Homeland Security shall, on a biennial basis, submit to the relevant committees of Congress, and make publicly available on the Internet Web site of the Department of Homeland Security, a report on the progress of the integrated consortium of laboratory networks, as established under subsection (a), in carrying out this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 203. BUILDING DOMESTIC CAPACITY.

(a) In General-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) INITIAL REPORT- The Secretary shall, not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, submit to Congress a comprehensive report that identifies programs and practices that are intended to promote the safety and security of food and to prevent outbreaks of food-borne illness and other food-related hazards that can be addressed through preventive activities. Such report shall include a description of the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Analysis of the need for regulations or guidance to industry.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) Outreach to food industry sectors, including through the Food and Agriculture Coordinating Councils referred to in section 111, to identify potential sources of emerging threats to the safety and security of the food supply and preventive strategies to address those threats.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) Systems to ensure the prompt distribution to the food industry of information and technical assistance concerning preventive strategies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) Communication systems to ensure that information about specific threats to the safety and security of the food supply are rapidly and effectively disseminated.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) Surveillance systems and laboratory networks to rapidly detect and respond to food-borne illness outbreaks and other food-related hazards, including how such systems and networks are integrated.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(F) Outreach, education, and training provided to States to build State food safety and food defense capabilities, including progress implementing strategies developed under sections 109 and 205.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(G) The estimated resources needed to effectively implement the programs and practices identified in the report developed in this section over a 5-year period.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) BIENNIAL REPORTS- On a biennial basis following the submission of the report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) reviews previous food safety programs and practices;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) outlines the success of those programs and practices;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) identifies future programs and practices; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) includes information related to any matter described in subparagraphs (A) through (G) of paragraph (1), as necessary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Risk-Based Activities- The report developed under subsection (a)(1) shall describe methods that seek to ensure that resources available to the Secretary for food safety-related activities are directed at those actions most likely to reduce risks from food, including the use of preventive strategies and allocation of inspection resources. The Secretary shall promptly undertake those risk-based actions that are identified during the development of the report as likely to contribute to the safety and security of the food supply.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Capability for Laboratory Analyses; Research- The report developed under subsection (a)(1) shall provide a description of methods to increase capacity to undertake analyses of food samples promptly after collection, to identify new and rapid analytical techniques, including techniques that can be employed at ports of entry and through Food Emergency Response Network laboratories, and to provide for well-equipped and staffed laboratory facilities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Information Technology- The report developed under subsection (a)(1) shall include a description of such information technology systems as may be needed to identify risks and receive data from multiple sources, including foreign governments, State, local, and tribal governments, other Federal agencies, the food industry, laboratories, laboratory networks, and consumers. The information technology systems that the Secretary describes shall also provide for the integration of the facility registration system under section 415 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 350d), and the prior notice system under section 801(m) of such Act (21 U.S.C. 381(m)) with other information technology systems that are used by the Federal Government for the processing of food offered for import into the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Automated Risk Assessment- The report developed under subsection (a)(1) shall include a description of progress toward developing and improving an automated risk assessment system for food safety surveillance and allocation of resources.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Traceback and Surveillance Report- The Secretary shall include in the report developed under subsection (a)(1) an analysis of the Food and Drug Administration’s performance in food-borne illness outbreaks during the 5-year period preceding the date of enactment of this Act involving fruits and vegetables that are raw agricultural commodities (as defined in section 201(r) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321(r))) and recommendations for enhanced surveillance, outbreak response, and traceability. Such findings and recommendations shall address communication and coordination with the public and industry, outbreak identification, and traceback.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Biennial Food Safety and Food Defense Research Plan- The Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture shall, on a biennial basis, submit to Congress a joint food safety and food defense research plan which may include studying the long-term health effects of food-borne illness. Such biennial plan shall include a list and description of projects conducted during the previous 2-year period and the plan for projects to be conducted during the following 2-year period.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 204. ENHANCING TRACEBACK AND RECORDKEEPING.

(a) In General- The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture and representatives of State departments of health and agriculture, shall improve the capacity of the Secretary to effectively and rapidly track and trace, in the event of an outbreak, fruits and vegetables that are raw agricultural commodities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Pilot Project-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a pilot project in coordination with the produce industry to explore and evaluate new methods for rapidly and effectively tracking and tracing fruits and vegetables that are raw agricultural commodities so that, if an outbreak occurs involving such a fruit or vegetable, the Secretary may quickly identify the source of the outbreak and the recipients of the contaminated food.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CONTENT- The Secretary shall select participants from the produce industry to run projects which overall shall include at least 3 different types of fruits or vegetables that have been the subject of outbreaks during the 10-year period preceding the date of enactment of this Act, and shall be selected in order to develop and demonstrate--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) methods that are applicable and appropriate for small businesses; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) technologies, including existing technologies, that enhance traceback and trace forward.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Report- Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall report to Congress on the findings of the pilot project under subsection (b) together with recommendations for establishing more effective traceback and trace forward procedures for fruits and vegetables that are raw agricultural commodities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Traceback Performance Requirements- Not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish standards for the type of information, format, and timeframe for persons to submit records to aid the Secretary in effectively and rapidly tracking and tracing, in the event of an outbreak, fruits and vegetables that are raw agricultural commodities. Nothing in this section shall be construed as giving the Secretary the authority to prescribe specific technologies for the maintenance of records.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Public Input- During the comment period in the notice of proposed rulemaking under subsection (d), the Secretary shall conduct not less than 3 public meetings in diverse geographical areas of the United States to provide persons in different regions an opportunity to comment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Raw Agricultural Commodity- In this section, the term ‘raw agricultural commodity’ has the meaning given that term in section 201(r) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321(r)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 205. SURVEILLANCE.

(a) Definition of Food-Borne Illness Outbreak- In this section, the term ‘food-borne illness outbreak’ means the occurrence of 2 or more cases of a similar illness resulting from the ingestion of a food.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Food-Borne Illness Surveillance Systems-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall enhance food-borne illness surveillance systems to improve the collection, analysis, reporting, and usefulness of data on food-borne illnesses by--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) coordinating Federal, State and local food-borne illness surveillance systems, including complaint systems, and increasing participation in national networks of public health and food regulatory agencies and laboratories;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) facilitating sharing of findings on a more timely basis among governmental agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Agriculture, and State and local agencies, and with the public;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) ensuring early notification to the affected food industry when a particular food may be suspected in the outbreak and sharing of all relevant data with the affected food industry during the course of the investigation;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) developing improved epidemiological tools for obtaining quality exposure data, and microbiological methods for classifying cases;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) augmenting such systems to improve attribution of a food-borne illness outbreak to a specific food;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(F) expanding capacity of such systems, including working toward automatic electronic searches, for implementation of fingerprinting strategies for food-borne infectious agents, in order to identify new or rarely documented causes of food-borne illness and submit standardized information to a centralized database;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(G) allowing timely public access to aggregated, de-identified surveillance data;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(H) at least annually, publishing current reports on findings from such systems;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(I) establishing a flexible mechanism for rapidly initiating scientific research by academic institutions;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(J) integrating food-borne illness surveillance systems and data with other biosurveillance and public health situational awareness capabilities at the state and federal levels; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(K) other activities as determined appropriate by the Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) ADVISORY GROUP ON IMPROVING FOODBORNE ILLNESS SURVEILLANCE AND OUTBREAK INVESTIGATIONS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall support and maintain a diverse working group of experts and stakeholders from Federal, State, and local food safety and health agencies, the food industry, consumer organizations, and academia. Such working group shall provide the Secretary, through at least annual meetings of the working group and an annual public report, advice and recommendations on an ongoing and regular basis regarding the improvement of food-borne illness surveillance, outbreak investigation, and implementation of this section, including advice and recommendations on--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) the priority needs of regulatory agencies, the food industry, and consumers for information and analysis on food-borne illness and its causes;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) the priority needs of regulatory agencies, the food industry, and consumers for information and analysis on outbreak investigations that can be used to improve the line of authority and accountability;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) opportunities to improve the effectiveness of initiatives at the Federal, State, and local levels, including coordination and integration of activities among Federal agencies, and between the Federal, State, and local levels of government;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iv) improvement in the timeliness and depth of access by regulatory and health agencies, the food industry, academic researchers, and consumers to food-borne illness surveillance data and food recall survey data collected by government agencies at all levels, including data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(v) key barriers to improvement in food-borne illness surveillance and its utility for preventing food-borne illness at Federal, State, and local levels;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(vi) the capabilities needed for establishing automatic electronic searches of surveillance data; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(vii) specific actions to reduce barriers to improvement, implement the working group’s recommendations, and achieve the purposes of this section, with measurable objectives and timelines, and identification of resource and staffing needs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) ADDITIONAL DUTIES- The Secretary shall also utilize the working group under paragraph (1) to assist in outbreak investigations as deemed appropriate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Improving Food Safety and Defense Capacity at the State and Local Level-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall develop and implement strategies to leverage and enhance the food safety and defense capacities of State and local agencies in order to achieve the following goals:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Improve food-borne illness outbreak response and containment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) Accelerate food-borne illness surveillance and outbreak investigation, including rapid shipment of clinical isolates from clinical laboratories to appropriate State laboratories, and conducting more standardized illness outbreak interviews.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) Strengthen the capacity of State and local agencies to carry out inspections and enforce safety standards.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) Improve the effectiveness of Federal-State partnerships to coordinate food safety and defense resources and reduce the incidence of food-borne illness.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) Share information on a timely basis among public health and food regulatory agencies, with the food industry, with health care providers, and with the public.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(F) Strengthen the capacity of State and local agencies to achieve the goals described in section 109.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) REVIEW- In developing of the strategies required by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, complete a review of State and local capacities, and needs for enhancement, which may include a survey with respect to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) staffing levels and expertise available to perform food safety and defense functions;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) laboratory capacity to support surveillance, outbreak response, inspection, and enforcement activities;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) information systems to support data management and sharing of food safety and defense information among State and local agencies and with counterparts at the Federal level; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) other State and local activities and needs as determined appropriate by the Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Food Safety Capacity Building Grants- Section 317R(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-20(b)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘2002’ and inserting ‘2010’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking ‘2003 through 2006’ and inserting ‘2011 through 2014’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE III--SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR IMPORTED FOODCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 301. FOREIGN SUPPLIER VERIFICATION PROGRAM.

(a) In General- Chapter VIII (21 U.S.C. 381 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 805. FOREIGN SUPPLIER VERIFICATION PROGRAM.

‘(a) In General-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) VERIFICATION REQUIREMENT- Each United States importer of record shall perform risk-based foreign supplier verification activities in accordance with regulations promulgated under subsection (c) for the purpose of verifying that the food imported by the importer of record or its agent is--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) produced in compliance with the requirements of section 419 or 420, as appropriate; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) is not adulterated under section 402 or misbranded under section 403(w).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) IMPORTER EXCLUSION- For purposes of this section, an ‘importer of record’ shall not include a person holding a valid license under section 641 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1641) (referred to as a ‘customs broker’) if the customs broker has executed a written agreement with another person who has agreed to comply with the requirements of this section with regard to food imported or offered for import by the customs broker.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Guidance- Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall issue guidance to assist United States importers of record in developing foreign supplier verification programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Regulations-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 1 year after issuing guidance under subsection (b), the Secretary shall promulgate regulations to provide for the content of the foreign supplier verification program established under subsection (a). Such regulations shall, as appropriate, include a process for verification by a United States importer of record, with respect to each foreign supplier from which it obtains food, that the imported food is produced in compliance with the requirements of section 419 or 420, as appropriate, and is not adulterated under section 402 or misbranded under section 403(w).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) VERIFICATION- The regulations under paragraph (1) shall require that the foreign supplier verification program of each importer of record be adequate to provide assurances that each foreign supplier to the importer of record produces the imported food employing processes and procedures, including risk-based reasonably appropriate preventive controls, that are documented in a written plan under subsection (d) and equivalent in preventing adulteration and reducing hazards as those required by section 419 or section 420, as appropriate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) ACTIVITIES- Verification activities under a foreign supplier verification program under this section may include monitoring records for shipments, lot-by-lot certification of compliance, annual on-site inspections, checking the hazard analysis and risk-based preventive control plan of the foreign supplier, and periodically testing and sampling shipments.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Record Maintenance and Access- Each facility required to be registered under section 415 that is, as determined by the Secretary, a high-risk facility shall submit to the Secretary a written plan that documents and describes its hazard analysis and preventative control procedures. The Secretary or a duly authorized representative of the Secretary may review the plan and may make recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the plan in preventing or minimizing the threat of serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals. Records of all United States importers related to a foreign supplier verification program shall be maintained for a period of not less than 2 years and shall be made available promptly to a duly authorized representative of the Secretary upon request.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(e) Deemed Compliance of Seafood, Juice, and Low-Acid Canned Food Facilities in Compliance With HACCP- An owner, operator, or agent in charge of a facility required to comply with 1 of the following standards and regulations with respect to such facility shall be deemed to be in compliance with this section with respect to such facility:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) The Seafood Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points Program of the Food and Drug Administration.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) The Juice Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points Program of the Food and Drug Administration.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) The Thermally Processed Low-Acid Foods Packaged in Hermetically Sealed Containers standards of the Food and Drug Administration (or any successor standards).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(f) Publication of List of Participants- The Secretary shall publish and maintain on the Internet Web site of the Food and Drug Administration a current list that includes the name of, location of, and other information deemed necessary by the Secretary about, importers participating under this section.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Prohibited Act- Section 301 (21 U.S.C. 331), as amended by section 106, is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(rr) The importation or offering for importation of a food if the importer of record does not have in place a foreign supplier verification program in compliance with section 805.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Imports- Section 801(a) (21 U.S.C. 381(a)) is amended by adding ‘or the importer of record is in violation of section 805’ after ‘or in violation of section 505’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall take effect 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 302. VOLUNTARY QUALIFIED IMPORTER PROGRAM.

Chapter VIII (21 U.S.C. 381 et seq.), as amended by section 301, is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 806. VOLUNTARY QUALIFIED IMPORTER PROGRAM.

‘(a) In General- Beginning not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) establish a program, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, to provide for the expedited review and importation of food offered for importation by United States importers who have voluntarily agreed to participate in such program; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) issue a guidance document related to participation and compliance with such program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Voluntary Participation- An importer may request the Secretary to provide for the expedited review and importation of designated foods in accordance with the program procedures established by the Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Eligibility- In order to be eligible, an importer shall be offering food for importation from a facility that has a certification described in section 809(b). In reviewing the applications and making determinations on such requests, the Secretary shall consider the risk of the food to be imported based on factors, such as the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) The nature of the food to be imported.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) The compliance history of the foreign supplier.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) The capability of the regulatory system of the country of export to ensure compliance with United States food safety standards.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) The compliance of the importer with the requirements of section 805.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(5) The recordkeeping, testing, inspections and audits of facilities, traceability of articles of food, temperature controls, and sourcing practices of the importer.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(6) The potential risk for intentional adulteration of the food.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(7) Any other factor that the Secretary determines appropriate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Review and Revocation- Any importer qualified by the Secretary in accordance with the eligibility criteria set forth in this section shall be reevaluated not less often than once every 3 years and the Secretary shall promptly revoke the qualified importer status of any importer found not to be in compliance with such criteria.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(e) Definition- For purposes of this section, the term ‘importer’ means the person that brings food, or causes food to be brought, from a foreign country into the customs territory of the United States.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 303. AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE IMPORT CERTIFICATIONS FOR FOOD.

(a) In General- Section 801(a) (21 U.S.C. 381(a)) is amended by inserting after the third sentence the following: ‘With respect to an article of food, if importation of such food is subject to, but not compliant with, the requirement under subsection (p) that such food be accompanied by a certification or other assurance that the food meets some or all applicable requirements of this Act, then such article shall be refused admission.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Addition of Certification Requirement- Section 801 (21 U.S.C. 381) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(p) Certifications Concerning Imported Foods-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary, based on public health considerations, including risks associated with the food or its place of origin, may require as a condition of granting admission to an article of food imported or offered for import into the United States, that an entity specified in paragraph (2) provide a certification or such other assurances as the Secretary determines appropriate that the article of food complies with some or all applicable requirements of this Act, as specified by the Secretary. Such certification or assurances may be provided in the form of shipment-specific certificates, a listing of certified entities, or in such other form as the Secretary may specify. Such certification shall be used for designated food imported from countries with which the Food and Drug Administration has an agreement to establish a certification program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) CERTIFYING ENTITIES- For purposes of paragraph (1), entities that shall provide the certification or assurances described in such paragraph are--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) an agency or a representative of the government of the country from which the article of food at issue originated, as designated by such government or the Secretary; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) such other persons or entities accredited pursuant to section 809 to provide such certification or assurance.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) RENEWAL AND REFUSAL OF CERTIFICATIONS- The Secretary may--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) require that any certification or other assurance provided by an entity specified in paragraph (2) be renewed by such entity at such times as the Secretary determines appropriate; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) refuse to accept any certification or assurance if the Secretary determines that such certification or assurance is no longer valid or reliable.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION- The Secretary shall provide for the electronic submission of certifications under this subsection.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Conforming Technical Amendment- Section 801(b) (21 U.S.C. 381(b)) is amended in the second sentence by striking ‘with respect to an article included within the provision of the fourth sentence of subsection (a)’ and inserting ‘with respect to an article described in subsection (a) relating to the requirements of sections 760 or 761,’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) No Limit on Authority- Nothing in the amendments made by this section shall limit the authority of the Secretary to conduct random inspections of imported food or to take such other steps as the Secretary deems appropriate to determine the admissibility of imported food.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 304. PRIOR NOTICE OF IMPORTED FOOD SHIPMENTS.

(a) In General- Section 801(m)(1) (21 U.S.C. 381(m)(1)) is amended by inserting ‘any country to which the article has been refused entry;’ after ‘the country from which the article is shipped;’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Regulations- Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue an interim final rule amending subpart I of part 1 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, to implement the amendment made by this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Effective Date- The amendment made by this section shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 305. REVIEW OF A REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF A FOREIGN COUNTRY.

Chapter VIII (21 U.S.C. 381 et seq.), as amended by section 302, is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 807. REVIEW OF A REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF A FOREIGN COUNTRY.

‘The Secretary may review information from a country outlining the statutes, regulations, standards, and controls of such country, and conduct on-site audits in such country to verify the implementation of those statutes, regulations, standards, and controls. Based on such review, the Secretary shall determine whether such country can provide reasonable assurances that the food supply of the country is equivalent in safety to food manufactured, processed, packed, or held in the United States.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 306. BUILDING CAPACITY OF FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS WITH RESPECT TO FOOD.

(a) In General- The Secretary shall, not later than 2 years of the date of enactment of this Act, develop a comprehensive plan to expand the technical, scientific, and regulatory capacity of foreign governments, and their respective food industries, from which foods are exported to the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Consultation- In developing the plan under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Commerce, representatives of the food industry, appropriate foreign government officials, and nongovernmental organizations that represent the interests of consumers, and other stakeholders.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Plan- The plan developed under subsection (a) shall include, as appropriate, the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Recommendations for bilateral and multilateral arrangements and agreements, including provisions to provide for responsibility of exporting countries to ensure the safety of food.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Provisions for electronic data sharing.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) Provisions for mutual recognition of inspection reports.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) Training of foreign governments and food producers on United States requirements for safe food.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) Recommendations to harmonize requirements under the Codex Alimentarius.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) Provisions for the multilateral acceptance of laboratory methods and detection techniques.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 307. INSPECTION OF FOREIGN FOOD FACILITIES.

Chapter VIII (21 U.S.C. 381 et seq.), as amended by section 305, is amended by inserting at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 808. INSPECTION OF FOREIGN FOOD FACILITIES.

‘(a) Inspection- The Secretary--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) may enter into arrangements and agreements with foreign governments to facilitate the inspection of foreign facilities registered under section 415; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) shall direct resources to inspections of foreign facilities, suppliers, and food types, especially such facilities, suppliers, and food types that present a high risk (as identified by the Secretary), to help ensure the safety and security of the food supply of the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Effect of Inability To Inspect- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, food shall be refused admission into the United States if it is from a foreign facility registered under section 415 of which the owner, operator, or agent in charge of the facility, or the government of the foreign country, refuses to permit entry of United States inspectors, upon request, to inspect such facility. For purposes of this subsection, such an owner, operator, or agent in charge shall be considered to have refused an inspection if such owner, operator, or agent in charge refuses such a request to inspect a facility more than 48 hours after such request is submitted.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 308. THIRD-PARTY ACCREDITATION OF QUALIFIED AUDITORS AND AUDIT AGENTS.

Chapter VIII (21 U.S.C. 381 et seq.), as amended by section 307, is further amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 809. THIRD-PARTY AUDITORS AND AUDIT AGENTS ACCREDITATION.

‘(a) Definitions- In this section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) ACCREDITATION BODY- The term ‘accreditation body’ means a recognized authority that performs accreditation of third-party auditors and audit agents.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) AUDIT AGENT- The term ‘audit agent’ means an individual who is qualified to conduct food safety audits, and who may be an employee or an agent of a third-party auditor.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) ACCREDITED AUDIT AGENT- The term ‘accredited audit agent’ means an audit agent accredited by an accreditation body under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) ACCREDITED THIRD-PARTY AUDITOR- The term ‘accredited third-party auditor’ means a third-party auditor accredited by an accreditation body under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(5) CONSULTATIVE AUDIT- The term ‘consultative audit’ means an audit of an eligible entity--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) to determine whether such entity is in compliance with the provisions of this Act and with applicable industry standards and practices; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) the results of which are for internal facility purposes only.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(6) ELIGIBLE ENTITY- The term ‘eligible entity’ means a foreign entity, including foreign facilities registered under section 415, in the food import supply chain that chooses to be audited by an accredited third-party auditor or audit agent.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(7) REGULATORY AUDIT- The term ‘regulatory audit’ means an audit of an eligible entity--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) to determine whether such entity is in compliance with the provisions of this Act; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) the results of which determine--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) whether an entity is eligible to receive a certification under section 801(p); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) whether the entity is eligible to participate in the voluntary qualified importer program under section 806.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(8) THIRD-PARTY AUDITOR- The term ‘third-party auditor’ means a foreign government, foreign cooperative, or any other qualified third party, as the Secretary determines appropriate, that conducts audits of eligible entities to certify that such eligible entities meet the applicable requirements of this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) System of Accreditation-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) ACCREDITATION BODIES-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) ACCREDITATION BODIES RECOGNITION- No later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Safe Food Enforcement, Assessment, Standards and Targeting Act of 2009, the Secretary shall establish a system for the recognition of accreditation bodies that accredit third-party auditors and audit agents to certify that eligible entities meet the applicable requirements of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) NOTIFICATION- Each accreditation body recognized by the Secretary under this section shall submit to the Secretary a list of all accredited third-party auditors and audit agents accredited by such body.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) REVOCATION OF ACCREDITATION BODY RECOGNITION- The Secretary shall promptly revoke the recognition of any accreditation body found not to be in compliance with the requirements of this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) MODEL ACCREDITATION STANDARDS- The Secretary shall develop model standards, including audit report requirements, and each recognized accreditation body shall ensure that third-party auditors and audit agents meet such standards in order to qualify as an accredited third-party auditor or audit agent under this section. In developing the model standards, the Secretary shall look to standards in place on the date of the enactment of this section for guidance, to avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts and costs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Third-Party Auditors and Audit Agencies-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) THIRD-PARTY AUDITOR OR AUDIT AGENT ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS- Prior to accrediting a foreign government as an accredited third-party auditor, the accreditation body shall perform such reviews and audits of food safety programs, systems, and standards of the government as the Secretary deems necessary to determine that the foreign government is capable of adequately ensuring that eligible entities certified by such government meet the requirements of this Act with respect to food manufactured, processed, packed, or held for import to the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) FOREIGN COOPERATIVES AND OTHER THIRD PARTIES- Prior to accrediting a foreign cooperative that aggregates the products of growers or processors, or any other third party that the Secretary determines appropriate to be an accredited third-party auditor or audit agent, the accreditation body shall perform such reviews and audits of the training and qualifications of auditors used by that cooperative or party and conduct such reviews of internal systems and such other investigation of the cooperative or party as the Secretary deems necessary to determine that each eligible entity certified by the cooperative or party has systems and standards in use to ensure that such entity meets the requirements of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) REQUIREMENT TO ISSUE CERTIFICATION OF ELIGIBLE ENTITIES-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) IN GENERAL- An accreditation body may not accredit a third-party auditor or audit agent unless such third-party auditor or audit agent agrees to issue a written and electronic certification to accompany each food shipment for import into the United States from an eligible entity certified by the third-party auditor or audit agent, subject to requirements set forth by the Secretary. The Secretary shall consider such certificates when targeting inspection resources under section 421.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) PURPOSE OF CERTIFICATION- The Secretary shall use evidence of certification provided by accredited third-party auditors and audit agents--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) to determine the eligibility of an importer to receive a certification under section 801(p); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) to determine the eligibility of an importer to participate in the voluntary qualified importer program under section 806.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) AUDIT REPORT REQUIREMENTS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) REQUIREMENTS IN GENERAL- As a condition of accreditation, an accredited third-party auditor or audit agent shall prepare the audit report for an audit, in a form and manner designated by the Secretary, which shall include--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) the identity of the persons at the audited eligible entity responsible for compliance with food safety requirements;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) the dates of the audit;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) the scope of the audit; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iv) any other information required by the Secretary that relates to or may influence an assessment of compliance with this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) SUBMISSION OF REPORTS TO THE SECRETARY-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) IN GENERAL- Following any accreditation of a third-party auditor or audit agent, the Secretary may, at any time, require the accredited third-party auditor or audit agent to submit to the Secretary an onsite audit report and such other reports or documents required as part of the audit process, for any eligible entity certified by the third-party auditor or audit agent. Such report may include documentation that the eligible entity is in compliance with any applicable registration requirements.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) LIMITATION- The requirement under clause (i) shall not include any report or other documents resulting from a consultative audit by the accredited third-party auditor or audit agent, except that the Secretary may access the results of a consultative audit in accordance with section 414.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) AUDIT AGENT REQUIREMENTS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS- If, at any time during an audit, an accredited audit agent discovers a condition that could cause or contribute to a serious risk to the public health, the audit agent shall immediately notify the Secretary of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) the identification of the eligible entity subject to the audit; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) such condition.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) AUDIT TYPES- An accredited audit agent may perform consultative and regulatory audits of eligible entities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) LIMITATIONS- An accredited audit agent may not perform a regulatory audit of an eligible entity if such agent has performed a consultative audit or a regulatory audit of such eligible entity during the previous 24-month period.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(5) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) THIRD-PARTY AUDITORS- An accredited third-party auditor shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) not be owned, managed, or controlled by any person that owns or operates an eligible entity to be certified by such auditor;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) in carrying out audits of eligible entities under this section, have procedures to ensure against the use of any officer or employee of such auditor that has a financial conflict of interest regarding an eligible entity to be certified by such auditor; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) annually make available to the Secretary disclosures of the extent to which such auditor and the officers and employees of such auditor have maintained compliance with clauses (i) and (ii) relating to financial conflicts of interest.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) AUDIT AGENTS- An accredited audit agent shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) not own or operate an eligible entity to be certified by such agent;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) in carrying out audits of eligible entities under this section, have procedures to ensure that such agent does not have a financial conflict of interest regarding an eligible entity to be certified by such agent; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) annually make available to the Secretary disclosures of the extent to which such agent has maintained compliance with clauses (i) and (ii) relating to financial conflicts of interest.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) REGULATIONS- The Secretary shall promulgate regulations not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the Safe Food Enforcement, Assessment, Standards, and Targeting Act of 2009 to ensure that there are protections against conflicts of interest between an accredited third-party auditor or audit agent and the eligible entity to be certified by such auditor or audit agent. Such regulations shall include--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) requiring that audits performed under this section be unannounced;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) a structure, including timing and public disclosure, for fees paid by eligible entities to accredited third-party auditors or audit agents to decrease the potential for conflicts of interest; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) appropriate limits on financial affiliations between an accredited third-party auditor or audit agent and any person that owns or operates an eligible entity to be certified by such auditor or audit agent.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(6) WITHDRAWAL OF ACCREDITATION- The Secretary shall withdraw accreditation from an accredited third-party auditor or audit agent--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) if food from an eligible entity certified by such third-party auditor or audit agent is linked to an outbreak of human or animal illness;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) following a performance audit and finding by the Secretary that the third-party auditor or audit agent no longer meets the requirements for accreditation; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) following a refusal to allow United States officials to conduct such audits and investigations as may be necessary to ensure continued compliance with the requirements set forth in this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(7) NEUTRALIZING COSTS- The Secretary shall establish a method, similar to the method used by the Department of Agriculture, by which accredited third-party auditors and audit agents reimburse the Food and Drug Administration for the work performed to establish and administer the accreditation system under this section. The Secretary shall make operating this program revenue-neutral and shall not generate surplus revenue from such a reimbursement mechanism.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Eligible Entities Recertification- An eligible entity shall apply for annual recertification by an accredited third-party auditor or audit agent if such entity--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) intends to participate in voluntary qualified importer program under section 806; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) must provide to the Secretary a certification under section 801(p) for any food from such entity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(e) False Statements- Any statement or representation made--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) by an employee or agent of an eligible entity to an accredited third-party auditor or audit agent; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) by an accredited third-party auditor or an audit agent to the Secretary,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





shall be subject to section 1001 of title 18, United States Code.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 309. JURISDICTION; AUTHORITIES.

Nothing in this Act, or an amendment made by this Act, shall be construed to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) alter the jurisdiction between the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, under applicable statutes and regulations;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) limit the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue regulations related to the safety of food under--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) impede, minimize, or affect the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture to prevent, control, or mitigate a plant or animal health emergency, or a food emergency involving products regulated under the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, or the Egg Products Inspection Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink