Dr. Gina's Blog

Below is a report by the Natural Products Association regarding the Food Safety Modernization Act.  The Senate passed the bill with language that was largely debated and in support of the Natural Products Industry and small farmers.

Here’s to positive changes happening in America!

–Dr. G

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Food Safety Bill Passes the Senate

This morning the Senate passed S. 510, the Food Safety Modernization Act, by a vote of 73-25. It is still expected that the House will approve the bill as passed by the Senate, and send it on to the President for his signature. Enactment will complete a long legislative journey spanning several Congresses, and is a significant win for the NPA and the industry; as provisions negatively impacting natural products retailers and suppliers were modified or kept out of the bill, and measures supported by the industry were included.

As noted in earlier updates, the bill includes the language negotiated between industry champion Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), which prompted McCain to withdraw his support for S. 3002. There also are provisions protecting supplement makers from duplicative safety regulations, and language clarifying that nothing in the bill promotes adoption of CODEX by the United States. These provisions were supported by NPA. The bill also includes a recent amendment offered by Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) to protect small farmers, as well as several other provisions. Not included in the revised package is the penalties amendment proposed by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) that the Natural Products Association opposed.

The final version of this bill is a demonstration of the impact of the strong grassroots voice of NPA members and others in the industry, and the hard work by the NPA staff and lobbying team.

The NPA will remain vigilant for the rest of the lame duck session of Congress to ensure the interests of the industry are protected.

LTP Natural Medical Center and Dr. Gina Cushman are members of the Natural Products Association and support their efforts to make positive change happen in America’s Natural Healthcare Industry.