GMA Cheers Senate Passage of Food Safety Bill

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) heartily approved the U.S. Senate’s passage of S. 510, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, with the Washington-based trade organization’s president and CEO, Pamela G. Bailey, even going so far as to call it “an early Christmas present.”

“[T]his landmark legislation provides FDA with the resources and authorities the agency needs to help strengthen our nation’s food safety system by making prevention the focus of our food safety strategies,” noted Bailey, adding, “The food and beverage industry is committed to partnering with Congress, the administration and the FDA to strengthen and modernize our nation’s food safety system.”

The legislation safeguards public health and safety by requiring all food companies to create a food safety plan, adopting a risk-based approach to inspection and improving the safety of imported food and food ingredients

Bailey called on the House of Representatives to pass a corresponding act so that the law could take effect as soon as possible.