House Democrats unveil food safety draft

House Energy and Commerce Committee Democrats released on Wednesday a draft version of food safety legislation they hope to mark up next month. The draft is based on more comprehensive legislation that addressed safety issues with pharmaceuticals and medical devices that committee leaders proposed in January.

The committee plans to hold a hearing on the measure a week from Wednesday. The draft was introduced by Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and Democratic Reps. John Dingell and Bart Stupak, both of Michigan; Frank Pallone of New Jersey; Diana DeGette of Colorado; and Betty Sutton of Ohio.

The new draft sets $1,000 annual registration fees for food companies to help pay for increased FDA inspections. Inspection intervals are set more frequently depending on the risk of the product being sold, ranging from as often as every six months for high-risk products to every three years for low-risk companies. The Grocery Manufacturers of America released a statement criticizing the registration fees.

The food lobby said the fees come at a particularly bad time for companies and consumers, and it argues they create a conflict of interest because food companies will be funding their government inspections.