Single Food Agency Proposed
Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Vic Fazio of California Tuesday unveiled legislation to create a single agency to oversee food safety out of the half- dozen entities currently charged with the responsibility.
Proponents of the bill say a single agency would lead to more consistent regulations and more effective enforcement of food inspection and safety laws.
Under the current system, the Food and Drug Administration is in charge of inspecting processed foods, the Agriculture Department oversees meat inspection, and responsibility for seafood is shared by the FDA, the Commerce Department and the Environmental Protection Agency.
"The current system is an invitation to disaster," Fazio said. "A single food safety agency that has the power and the flexibility to enforce food safety regulations from farm-to-table is needed now," he added. Durbin said the bill "isn't about more regulation, it's about more effective regulation."
Reuters reported that Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said the proposal was "worth exploring" and said, "Let's see what they say." The Grocery Manufacturers Association said the idea should be "carefully considered" but noted Congress already has requested a National Academy of Sciences study on the issue.
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