FORMULA Act

Bill: 117-hr-7808
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Stewart, Chris [R-UT-2]
Introduced: 2022-05-17
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Africa

Asia

Australia

Child health

Europe

European Union

Food supply, safety, and labeling

Government information and archives

Israel

Japan

Marketing and advertising

Middle East

New Zealand

Nutrition and diet

Oceania

Poverty and welfare assistance

South Africa

Switzerland

Tariffs

Trade restrictions

United Kingdom

Women's health
Latest action: action_date: 2022-05-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

Summaries:
action_date: 2022-05-17
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Fixing Our Regulatory Mayhem Upsetting Little Americans Act or the FORMULA Act</strong></p> <p>This bill provides duty-free treatment to infant formula imported from certain countries.</p> <p>Specifically, the bill provides, for 180 days beginning on this bill's enactment, duty-free treatment to infant formula if the formula (1) is imported from specified countries (e.g., Australia, Japan, and the United Kingdom), and (2) was approved by the government of that country regulating such formula.</p> <p>The bill temporarily waives certain Food and Drug Administration regulations and requirements under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act for formula imported under this bill.</p> <p>A person who manufactures or imports formula must notify the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) if the person has knowledge that such formula may not provide required nutrients or may be unsafe for infant consumption. If HHS determines the formula is unsafe for infant consumption, then the manufacturer or importer must immediately recall shipments from all wholesale and retail establishments.</p> <p>The bill makes formula imported under this bill eligible for purchase using benefits received under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).</p> <p> The Department of Agriculture must maintain and publicize a list of imported formula approved for use and marketing within the country of origin and the recommended measurements for mixing or otherwise preparing the formula.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7808 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 17, 2022 Mr. Stewart introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means , and Education and Labor , 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 A BILL To suspend duties and other restrictions on the importation of infant formula to address the shortage of infant formula in the United States, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fixing Our Regulatory Mayhem Upsetting Little Americans Act or the FORMULA Act . 2. Suspension of restrictions on importation of infant formula to address shortage (a) Duty-Free treatment of infant formula imported from certain countries (1) In general During the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, infant formula described in paragraph (2) shall enter the United States free of duty and free of quantitative limitation. (2) Infant formula described Infant formula is described in this paragraph if the infant formula— (A) is classified under heading 1901.10 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States; (B) is imported from a country described in paragraph (3); and (C) was approved by the agency of the government of that country that regulates infant formula. (3) Countries described A country described in this paragraph is any of the following: (A) Australia. (B) Israel. (C) Japan. (D) New Zealand. (E) Switzerland. (F) South Africa. (G) The United Kingdom. (H) A member country of the European Union. (I) A member country of the European Economic Area. (b) Temporary exemptions from FDA requirements (1) In general With respect to any infant formula introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate commerce pursuant to subsection (a) during the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act— (A) the requirements under section 412 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 350a ) shall not apply; (B) such infant formula may be manufactured, processed, packed, or held in a domestic or foreign facility that is not registered under section 415 of such Act ( 21 U.S.C. 350d ); (C) the requirements under parts 106 and 107 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, shall not apply; and (D) such infant formula shall not be considered to be misbranded or adulterated solely on the basis of not being in compliance with the requirements of such section 412 or 415, or such part 106 or 107. (2) Notification requirement (A) In general A person who introduces or delivers for introduction into interstate commerce an infant formula pursuant to subsection (a) shall notify the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this subsection as the Secretary ) if such person has knowledge which reasonably supports the conclusion that such infant formula— (i) may not provide the nutrients required by section 412(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 350a(i) ); or (ii) is a product that meets any criterion under section 402(a) of such Act ( 21 U.S.C. 342(a) ), or which otherwise may be unsafe for infant consumption. (B) Knowledge defined For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term knowledge as applied to a person subject to such subparagraph means— (i) the actual knowledge that the manufacturer had; or (ii) the knowledge which a reasonable person would have had under like circumstances or which would have been obtained upon the exercise of due care. (3) Recall authority If the Secretary determines that infant formula introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate commerce pursuant to subsection (a) is a product described in paragraph (2)(A)(ii), the manufacturer or importer shall immediately take all actions necessary to recall shipments of such infant formula from all wholesale and retail establishments, consistent with recall regulations and guidelines issued by the Secretary. (4) Clarification Section 801(j) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 381(j) ) shall apply with respect to any infant formula introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate commerce pursuant to subsection (a) during the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (1) Access for WIC beneficiaries Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any infant formula introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate commerce pursuant to subsection (a) during the 180-day period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act is eligible for purchase using benefits received under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children established by section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786 ). (2) Waivers (A) Definition of covered document In this paragraph, the term covered document means the attachment entitled Process for State Agency Waiver Requests Related to Shortages to the letter of the Secretary of Agriculture dated February 18, 2022, entitled Voluntary Recall of Certain Abbott Powder Formulas, including Similac, Alimentum and EleCare . (B) Waivers During the 180-day period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture may grant any waiver described in the covered document, including with respect to the exchange or issuance, as applicable, of infant formula introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate commerce pursuant to subsection (a). (d) List of imported infant formula The Secretary of Agriculture shall— (1) maintain a list of all infant formula introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate commerce pursuant to subsection (a) during the 180-day period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, which shall include, for each infant formula— (A) the country of origin; (B) the recommended measurements for mixing or otherwise preparing the infant formula; and (C) the approved use and marketing status of the infant formula in the country of origin according to the applicable government entity that regulates infant formula in that country; and (2) make the list maintained under paragraph (1) publicly available on the websites of each of the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. (e) Infant formula defined In this section, the term infant formula has the meaning given that term in section 201(z) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 321(z) ).