Senate Vote on Food Safety Bill Expected Today

WASHINGTONThe Senate is expected to begin a series of votes on the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (S.510), which would overhaul the U.S. food-safety system by granting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) greater authority, turning the agency into one that proactively prevents the incidence of foodborne illness, rather than an agency that simply reacts once an outbreak occurs.

The bill, which has been put on a number of times this year, would give FDA greater authority to initiate recalls, rather than waiting for food companies to voluntarily recall food products. Further, food processors and farmers would be required to develop strategies to prevent contaminations, and would be required to allow FDA access to all records. Under the bill, FDA would be required to make regular inspections for farms and food manufacturing facilities.

As reported by Food Safety News, there will be a cloture vote on the final bill, which now includes an amendment by Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) to exempt small farms and producers under certain circumstances. There will then be votes on four separate amendments. Two amendments address paperwork issues related to the health care bill, and two belong to Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.)--a controversial moratorium on legislative earmarks through 2013 and an alternate, scaled-back food safety bill. Coburn is not expected to have the 67 votes needed to move either items forward.

While industry insiders predict the passage of the legislation, small farmers are unconvinced the Tester amendment will protect them from potentially burdensome regulations. Major produce industry groups also have pulled their support after the small farm exemption was negotiated into the final package.

Once the amendments are passed, the bill is expected to get the approval of the full Senate. While the House of Representatives approved a different version of the food safety bill in 2009, the legislations sponsor Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) has said members of the House have agreed to take up the Senate version of the bill if it is passed.