House Passes its Food Safety Bill (Correction Reminder)
On July 30, 2009, the House of Representatives passed, without amendment, the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 (H.R. 2749) by a vote of 283 yeas and 142 nays.
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(According to the Congressional Record, the text of this bill is the same as the bill that was defeated on July 29, 2009.)
This bill contains provisions to require registration of importers, brokers, and food facilities; generate resources to support FDA oversight of food safety; increase inspections; and require food imports to demonstrate safety; among other things. See future issues of ITT for detailed summaries of H.R. 2749.
(Although the House has passed H.R. 2749, it is not yet in effect. Generally, in order for a bill to be implemented, identical versions of that bill must be passed by both the House and Senate and then the bill must be approved (enacted) by the President.)
Movement on Senate Version of Food Safety Bill May Happen This Fall 2009
Senate sources have stated that movement on the Senate's bipartisan food safety bill (S. 510) is expected sometime in the fall. (See ITT's Online Archives or 03/09/09 news, 09030915, for BP summary of S. 510.)
Energy and Commerce Summary of Bill Contains Error on Broker Registration
The House Energy and Commerce Committee section-by-section summary of H.R. 2749, which was summarized in ITT, contains an error in the section on broker registration.
The Committee summary incorrectly states that the HHS Secretary would be able to cancel an importer's registration, after notice to the customs broker and CBP, if the customs broker's registration is not updated or otherwise contains false, incomplete, or inaccurate information.
The summary should state that a broker's registration would be able to be canceled.
(The Committee was notified of this error, stated that they knew of no others, and that its section-by-section summary was unlikely to be corrected and reissued.)
ITT's July 30 Issue Has Been Corrected and Reissued
Broker Power has reissued its July 30, 2009 news in order to correct this error.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 07/30/09 news, 09073005, for corrected BP summary.)