PMA Reacts to New FDA Commodity Guidance, House Food Safety Bill Passage

Produce Marketing Association (PMA) noted the evidence of industry’s input in proposed new produce commodity-specific food safety guidance announced today as well as yesterday’s approval of food safety legislation by the U.S. House of Representative, and called on industry members to voice their opinions on both initiatives.

Proposed commodity-specific food safety guidance for melons, leafy greens and tomatoes announced today by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will be the first step toward eventual regulation, agency officials told industry organizations including PMA during a group conference call today. PMA representatives noted that industry input in the guidance documents is already evident.

“We are pleased to see that the proposed guidance reflects the substantial work that has already been done by commodity groups over the last several years, as well as the numerous discussion that industry experts including PMA have had with the agency especially since the Obama administration took office,” said PMA Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs Kathy Means. “This reflects the new, more collaborative way of working with stakeholders that the new FDA leadership has been promising.”

FDA will now solicit public comment on the proposed guidance for 90 days; after considering public input, the agency will publish final guidance. PMA plans to comment in detail on the proposed guidance, which can be found online at:

-Tomatoes: http://www.federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2009-18453_PI.pdf
-Melons: http://www.federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2009-18452_PI.pdf
-Leafy greens: http://www.federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2009-18451_PI.pdf

Meanwhile, Means also highlighted the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of the Food Safety Enhancement Act, H.R. 2749. The House bill includes provisions for produce safety regulations, mandatory traceability programs and mandatory recall authority for FDA.

“Thanks to the input of our staff, members and other industry leaders, we saw significant improvement in this legislation,” said Means.

The House’s passage is the first step toward enactment of national food safety regulation. Attention now turns to the Senate, which is expected to consider the topic this fall. That chamber can either consider the House’s approved bill, or its own, such as legislation proposed by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).

PMA has advocated for several years for mandatory produce food safety regulation, as long as such legislation is commodity-specific, risk-based, science-based, and applies to domestic production and imported produce alike.

-Produce Marketing Association