Genetically Engineered Safety Act

Bill: 112-hr-3554
Sponsor: Rep. Kucinich, Dennis J. [D-OH-10]
Introduced: 2011-12-02 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Agricultural practices and innovations
Business records
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Environmental health
Food industry and services
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Genetics
Government information and archives
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Medical research
Retail and wholesale trades
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2011-12-02
text: 
Genetically Engineered Safety Act - Genetically Engineered Pharmaceutical and Industrial Crop Safety Act of 2011 - Prohibits: (1) a pharmaceutical crop or industrial crop from being grown, raised, or otherwise cultivated until the final regulations and tracking system required by this Act are in effect; and (2) cultivation of a pharmaceutical crop or industrial crop in an open air environment, or in a food commonly used for human food or domestic animal feed.
 
Directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a tracking system to regulate the growing, handling, transportation, and disposal of all pharmaceutical and industrial crops and their byproducts to prevent contamination.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to assess civil penalties for violations of such provisions.
 
 Directs the National Academy of Sciences to report on alternative methods to produce pharmaceuticals or industrial chemicals that may be conducted in controlled production facilities without the risk of contamination.
 
Genetically Engineered Food Safety Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to include genetically engineered food in the definition of "food additive." 
 
Sets forth requirements governing petitions to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) for a regulation prescribing the conditions of safe use of a genetically engineered food additive, including information to be included in the petition and factors to be considered by the Secretary in making a decision.
 
Authorizes civil actions against: (1) a person alleged to have violated FFDCA provisions regulating genetic food additives, and (2) the Secretary of Health and Human Services for failure to perform a mandatory act or duty related to genetic food additives. 
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to collect a filing fee for petitions to: (1) defray costs related to such petitions, and (2) provide for research on the safety of genetic food additives. 
Authorizes an officer or employee conducting an inspection to order the detention of food if such person has reason to believe that such food violates the FFDCA. Requires all food retailers to register with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expedite recalls, embargoes, and seizures.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-12-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Rural Development, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture.
action_date: 2011-12-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2011-12-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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: 2011-12-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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: 2011-12-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-12-02
text: Introduced in House