A coalition of consumer and industry groups is seeking a meeting with a Senate committee regarding the head of the FDA and his response to a recent report calling for a reorganization of the agency.
The coalition is made up of the Consumer Brands Association, Consumer Reports, STOP Foodborne Illness
Continue Reading Coalition wants an audience with the Senate committee to discuss FDA leadership
Republicans in the Senate provided six votes Tuesday that were needed to confirm Dr. Robert Califf as Commissioner of Food and Drugs by a 50-46 vote.
Califf is the 25th FDA commissioner and takes over the agency from Dr. Janet Woodcock who has served as acting commissioner since Joe Biden
Continue Reading Senate confirms Dr. Robert Califf as FDA commissioner with bipartisan support
The nation’s top food safety job remains vacant after the U.S. Senate left it out of a final batch of nominees confirmed this past Wednesday night during the final hours of the 115th Congress.
It means the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety vacancy has now officially entered its
Continue Reading List of last minute Senate confirmations fail to include top food safety job
Although her appointment is stalled in the U.S. Senate with hundreds of others, the nomination of Mindy Brashears as the next U.S. Under Secretary for Food Safety puts a real face on the long-time vacancy.
It’s been four years and 10 months since Elisabeth Hagen stepped down as the Under
Continue Reading The leadership burden at FSIS gives Senate another reason to take action
Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and John Hoeven (R-ND) introduced a bill Thursday that would remove certain meats from the mandatory country-of-origin (COOL) labeling program and institute a voluntary label instead. In May, the World Trade Organization rejected a U.S. appeal of its decision that COOL on meat unfairly discriminates against
Continue Reading Senators Introduce Bill for Voluntary COOL Label
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the agriculture appropriations bill for fiscal year 2016 on Thursday after discussing a handful of amendments. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) proposed an amendment to increase the funding allocated for implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), but it was ultimately voted down. This came
Continue Reading Amendment to Increase FSMA Funding Fails in Committee
The Senate’s FY 2016 agriculture appropriations bill has received subcommittee approval and will be considered by the full appropriations committee on Thursday. The bill includes a $45-million increase for the Food and Drug Administration’s food safety activities. Although $3.5 million more than the House allocation, the increase is still
Continue Reading Senate Ag Appropriations Bill Heads to Full Committee
The Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing Thursday to discuss country-of-origin labeling (COOL) for meat, which requires that packages sold in the U.S. indicate the country, or countries, where animals were born, raised and slaughtered. “It doesn’t matter if you’re pro-COOL (and many are) or anti-COOL (and many are), you
Continue Reading Senate Agriculture Committee Mulls Options on COOL
A contentious trade bill passed the U.S. Senate on Wednesday and is headed to the president’s desk. The Senate voted 60-38 to renew Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), which gives trade deals a “fast track” through Congress where lawmakers would only get an up-or-down vote without being able to add amendments.
Continue Reading Congress Gives President Obama Fast-Track Authority for Trade Deals
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) urged Congress to fully fund the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) in his remarks Tuesday on the floor of the U.S. Senate. “Unfortunately for many Americans, falling ill from contaminated food has become all too regular,” Reid said. He described the experiences of Rylee
Continue Reading Reid Calls for Full FSMA Funding on Senate Floor
