Food Uniformity Bill Passes in the House Despite Widespread Opposition

Members of the House put special interests before public interest

Despite opposition from many environmental, health and consumer rights organizations, 39 state Attorneys General, 7 state Governors, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, the Association of Food and Drug Officials, the National Conference of State Legislators and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, the United States House of Representatives passed H.R. 4167, The National Uniformity for Food Act, on Wednesday, March 8^th. 

Pushed forward by the food industry under the guise of promoting “uniformity” of food safety and labeling laws in the U.S., the bill requires all state food safety laws to be identical to the requirements of the Federal Food and Drug Administration.  If the FDA has not passed a regulation on a food threat, then all state regulations on that threat would immediately be voided.  And, since the states regulate many food safety issues not covered by the FDA, many food safety laws will be voided and replaced with no law at all.  

The bill passed the house with a vote of 283 to 139 (see how your Representative voted here) even though there has NEVER been a hearing in either the House or the Senate on this “uniformity” bill. 

While special interests trumped public interest in the House yesterday, we still have a strong chance to stop this dangerous legislation in the Senate. At least 7 Senators have already come out in opposition to the Food Uniformity bill. Our Senators need to know that we oppose any attempts to strip state's abilities to protect and inform their own citizens concerning food safety and labeling issues.

CONTACT YOUR SENATORS NOW AND ASK THEM TO STRONGLY OPPOSE ANY COMPANION BILL IN THE SENATE!

Sample Letter for Campaign

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am writing in opposition to the recently passed House bill H.R. 4167, "the National Uniformity for Food Act of 2005," and to ask you to strongly oppose any companion bill in the Senate.

I am very troubled by this industry-supported bill. It is an obvious attempt at eliminating state food safety and labeling laws on behalf of the food industry and at the expense of the rights of citizens and their state and local governments to protect their own public health. Because the FDA does not comprehensively regulate food safety, eliminating all state laws unless they are identical to FDA requirements will eliminate approximately 200 state food safety and labeling laws. The "uniformity" created by this bill will in many instances be the uniform absence of food safety laws.

Local and state officials are now responsible for 80% of the nation's food safety enforcement. H.R. 4167 puts a strangle hold on the people most informed about local needs. The bill was opposed by the Association of State Departments of Agriculture, the Association of Food and Drug Officials, 39 state Attorneys General, the National Conference of State Legislators and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture. These authorities are right to be concerned about the risks to public health that H.R. 4167 presents.

Obviously special interests trumped public interest in the House, don't let that happen in the Senate. Please stand up for the rights of our local governments and citizens to protect our public health and food supply and oppose any companion bill in the Senate.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
March 08, 2006