United Fresh Statement on Passage of the Food Safety Enhancement Act

WASHINGTON, July 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United Fresh Produce
Association President and CEO Tom Stenzel releases the following statement on
today's passage of the Food Safety Enhancement Act (H.R. 2749) by the U.S.
House of Representatives on a vote of 283 to 142:

"United Fresh is gratified by the House passage of this landmark food safety
legislation, which contains several important provisions designed to improve
our nation's food safety and help bolster consumer confidence in the food
supply. United Fresh is largely supportive of the bill, which has received
broad bipartisan support. Over the past two years, United Fresh has supported
congressional action on food safety and appreciates the opportunity to provide
critical input to lawmakers in development of the bill.

"The bill includes several important improvements, as advocated by United
Fresh, including:

-- Strengthened the bill's commodity-specific approach to produce;
-- Ensured that FDA would work with USDA, state departments of
agriculture
and other agencies in implementing all produce provisions;
-- Kept a mandate for traceability across all foods, but without
prescriptive dictates that could have set back work on our current
Produce Traceability Initiative;
-- Exempted produce from any duplicative requirements for country of
origin
labeling;
-- Enhanced the ability of fresh processors to develop individual HACCP
programs without rigid one-size fits-all mandates;
-- Assured equal treatment of imported and domestic produce in food
safety
standards;
-- Ensured tighter control of potential FDA geographic quarantine
authority, requiring an imminent threat to take such action and
coordination with USDA; and,

-- Capped registration fees for both facilities and importers.

"While United is supportive of these improvements to H.R. 2749, there are
still important issues that we will address with the Senate as it begins its
work on food safety legislation later this year. We look forward to continued
bipartisan support and industry cooperation to ensure passage of sound,
scientific food safety legislation that can benefit all Americans."

United Fresh Produce Association is the pre-eminent trade association for the
produce industry in managing critical public policy issues; shaping
legislative and regulatory action; providing scientific and technical
leadership in food safety, quality assurance, nutrition and health; and
developing educational programs and business opportunities for members to
better meet consumer needs for increased consumption of fresh produce.
Founded in 1904, United Fresh represents the interests of member companies
from small family businesses to the largest international corporations
throughout the global fresh produce supply chain, including growers, shippers,
fresh-cut processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, foodservice
operators, industry suppliers and allied associations. For more information,
visit www.unitedfresh.org

SOURCE United Fresh Produce Association

Ray Gilmer of United Fresh Produce Association, +1-202-303-3400 ext. 425,
+1-202-510-8205 (mobile), rgilmer@unitedfresh.org