Meat Industry INSIGHTS Newsletter

970924 Slow Pace Delays Broader U.S. Meat Recall Powers

September 17, 1997

WASHINGTON - It will be weeks, perhaps even next year, before Congress acts on adminstration requests for broader powers to keep tainted foods off the market, congressional and food industry officials said Wednesday.

Food industry groups staunchly oppose the proposals for federal power to order recalls, which now are voluntary.

However, there may be "some traction" for an accompanying request for authority to impose civil fines, said an official with a farm group.

In the wake of the record recall of 25 million pounds of hamburger last month, the Clinton administration asked for mandatory recall and civil penalty powers for the Agriculture Department and the Food and Drug Administration. It also wants the power to deny meat inspection at plants with repeated or willful rules violations.

John Cady, president of the National Food Processors Association, said it probably would be early October before much attention was paid to the issue. A Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on the issue was set for October 8.

"Then, you'll start hearing more about it," Cady said.

A Senate staff worker said it would be a couple of weeks, at a minimum, before negotiations might yield a consensus on a bill. If the goal was action yet this year, the bill would not contain all of the administration requests, he said.

At the moment, a key objective was designing a package that would pre-empt any attempt to allow state-inspected meat to be sold across state lines. That idea would be divisive and would alienate many potential supporters, said the staff worker who spoke on condition of anonymity.

If negotiations move slowly, action on the legislation would not be possible until next year, he said.

Cady said the food industry was united "probably stronger than anything" in a decade to oppose the mandatory recall bills.

Kelly Johnston, an NFPA vice president, said it was so late in the congressional session "I don't think you'll see anything soon" on food inspection.

Congressional leaders hope to adjourn for the year at the end of October or by mid-November.

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