Fresh Produce Safety Act

Bill: 110-hr-5620
Sponsor: Rep. Braley, Bruce L. [D-IA-1]
Introduced: 2008-03-13 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Agricultural pollution
Agricultural research
Agriculture in foreign trade
Commerce
Consumer education
Department of Health and Human Services
Environmental Protection
Food safety
Foodborne diseases
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Health surveys
Law
Produce trade
Science, Technology, Communications
Standards

Summary:
action_date: 2008-03-13
text: 
Fresh Produce Safety Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to establish standards for good manufacturing practices for the minimal processing of produce, including standards related to sanitation and water.

Requires the Secretary to provide for unannounced inspections of processing facilities to determine if produce processed in the facilities is in compliance with the requirements of this Act.

Directs the Secretary to establish general standards for good agricultural practices for the production of raw agricultural commodities, including requirements related to manure, animals, water, and environmental conditions. 

Gives officers and employees duly designated by the Secretary the authority to inspect appropriate facilities to determine compliance with the standards for good agricultural practices.

Directs the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to establish and maintain an active surveillance system to assess the frequency and sources of human illness in the United States associated with the consumption of fresh produce. 

Directs the Commissioner and the Secretary of Agriculture to design and implement a national public education program on food safety relating to produce.

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct research to assist in the implementation of this Act and the requirements of the FFDCA that relate to produce.

Requires the Secretary to establish procedures for equivalency with foreign countries that intend to export raw agricultural commodities and minimally processed produce to the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture.
action_date: 2008-03-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2008-03-13
text: 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 concerned.
action_date: 2008-03-13
text: 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 concerned.
action_date: 2008-03-13
text: 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 concerned.
action_date: 2008-03-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-03-13
text: Introduced in House