- Food Facility Inspection: All facilities regulated by the FDA, foreign and domestic, should be subject to mandatory, regular FDA inspection, with higher-risk facilities inspected on a more frequent basis - at a minimum once a year. Between 2003 and 2006, FDA domestic food safety inspections decreased 47 percent on average, Currently, domestic food production facilities are inspected once every 5 to 10 years, foreign facilities even less frequently.
- Traceability: Food should be able to be easily traced throughout the supply chain. [CU specified to me that they intend increased traceability measures aimed at the FDA, not the USDA. That's important because the National Animal ID System, which I oppose, is under the USDA. In other words, CU isn't calling for NAIS.]
- A Substantial Increase in Resources for FDA: FDA is an agency currently unable to do its job and a significant increase in appropriations for the agency is essential.
- Mandatory recall authority: The FDA and USDA must be given mandatory recall authority.
- Disclosure of retail consignees: The FDA should be required to inform consumers of the supermarkets, restaurants, schools, and nursing homes that have received recalled food.
- Process Controls: Production facilities should be required to develop food safety plans to identify hazards and implement such measures to reduce hazards.
- FDA Border Inspections: FDA inspects less than one percent of food imports at the border. This must be significantly increased, especially for high-risk foods. [The EU inspects either 20 or 50 percent of seafood at the border, depending on the risk of the individual item]
- Whistleblower Protection: Federal employees must be protected from the threat of being fired, demoted, suspended, or harassed as a result of providing information or assisting in the investigation of a violation of a food safety law.
- Civil Penalties: Food companies must be subject to civil penalties for violating food safety laws.
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