ADMINISTRATION MUST GET SERIOUS WITH FOOD IMPORTS

WASHINGTON, DC -- As Department of Health and Human Services SecretaryMike Leavitt touts the Bush Administration's latest food import safetyplan at the Seattle Fish Company in Denver, Energy and CommerceCommittee Vice Chair Diana DeGette (D-CO) today issued the followingstatement calling on the Secretary to "get serious when it comes toprotecting consumers":

"If the Bush Administration really wants to get serious aboutprotecting consumers, it would consolidate the over 12 federal agenciesthat currently have oversight of our food supply. A unified food safetysystem would greatly enhance the safety of our nation's food supply.

"The Administration should also grant the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) real,mandatory recall authority immediately. The Action Plan hailed earlierthis month by the Administration was all talk but no action – whilerecommending a weak form of recall authority for the FDA, it fails tosuggest any recall power for the USDA when it comes to tainted meat.Given the numerous outbreaks of contaminated meat, the USDA must havethis power to protect consumers."

DeGette has also introduced two major pieces of food safetylegislation, the SAFER Act [H.R. 3484], giving the government mandatoryrecall authority, and the TRACE Act [H.R. 3485], establishing a producttracing system for foods. The mandatory recall provisions encompassedin the SAFER Act have been included in the Energy and CommerceCommittee's food import safety legislation, H.R. 3610, the Food andDrug Import Safety Act of 2007.

DeGette is also a cosponsor of the Food Safety Act of 2007 that wouldcreate a single food agency charged with overseeing the nation's foodsupply.