Key Takeaways:
- FMI – The Food Industry Association is advocating for revisions to the Food Traceability Rule, citing it as one of the most burdensome regulations facing the industry. In a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration, FMI outlined concerns about the rule’s high costs, focus on reactive measures over preventive ones, and exceeding the FDA’s authority.
- FMI also recommended that the FDA withdraw the proposed rule on front-of-package nutrition labeling due to its burdensome implementation and lack of authority to mandate such requirements.
Insightful Analysis:
FMI’s comments come in response to the HHS’s call for recommendations to support a significant deregulatory effort. The Food Traceability Rule, proposed during President Trump’s administration in response to an E. Coli outbreak, aims to enhance food traceability for faster identification of contaminated products.
The FDA intends to extend the compliance deadline for the rule, acknowledging industry concerns about its complexity and costs. While FMI appreciates the extension, it believes the rule requires further modifications to ensure compliance without compromising food safety.
According to FMI, the rule’s projected costs and administrative burden are substantial, prompting the association to propose changes such as flexibility in lot code tracing and exemptions for intracompany shipments.
FMI is also advocating for the withdrawal of the proposed nutrition labeling rule and the revocation of outdated requirements to streamline regulatory processes and reduce costs for consumers.
In conclusion, FMI emphasizes the importance of reasonable revisions to regulatory issues to enhance food safety and efficiency without unduly burdening industry and consumers.