Purpose: To amend the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require that the Food & Drug Administration set ingredient and processing standards for pet food, strengthen labeling requirements, establish an early warning system for contaminated food products, and establish auditing and certification of foreign food systems. S. 1274 also provides authority to the FDA for mandatory recalls.
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Status: Referred to Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Action: SUPPORT. Please contact your U.S. Senators and urge them to support S. 1274. Tell your Senators that this legislation will help to prevent the needless deaths and illnesses of companion animals.
Talking points for your letter:
- S. 1274, the Human and Pet Food Safety Act of 2007, would amend the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require that the FDA set ingredient and processing standards for pet food, strengthen labeling requirements, establish an early warning system for contaminated food products, and establish auditing and certification of foreign food systems. The legislation also provides authority to the FDA for mandatory recalls.
- The ongoing pet food recalls have revealed the need for better regulation of the pet food industry. As a consumer, I am very concerned about pet food contamination. Companion animals are members of my family and my family and we must have confidence that the food we are purchasing for them is safe.
- Preserving the safety of the U.S. food supply — for both humans and companion animals — faces tremendous pressures due to emerging contaminants and the ability to detect all forms of contamination. In addition, our food supply is at risk due to the increasing volume of food that is imported, currently without adequate monitoring and inspection. While the volume of food that is imported is on the rise, the number of full-time FDA employees conducting inspections actually has decreased.
- It is vital for Congress to provide the FDA with additional resources, authorities, and direction to ensure the safety of the human and animal food supply in the U.S.