“The measure is well targeted in improving food security,” Motley said, noting that it provides $545 million to the Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture to add hundreds of officials to inspect food at ports of entry.
“The bill also gives the FDA new powers to detail suspicious foods for inspection and to require prior notice of imports.
“The conferees who developed this measure also had the wisdom to eliminate the duplicative requirement that retail food be registered with the federal government, when stores are already registered in numerous ways at both state and local levels.
“The bill provides much-need funding to strengthen security in numerous areas, he added. “When combined with funds already approved, the total amount of funding for anti-bioterrorism legislation this year will exceed $4.6 billion.
“FMI will join with the entire food industry and government at all levels in making the best possible use of these funds.”
Food Marketing Institute (FMI) conducts programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education and industry relations on behalf of its nearly 1,250 food retail and wholesale member companies in the United States and around the world. FMI’s U.S. members operate more than 25,000 retail food stores and almost 22,000 pharmacies with a combined annual sales volume of nearly $650 billion. FMI’s retail membership is composed of large multi-store chains, regional firms and independent operators. Its international membership includes 126 companies from more than 65 countries. FMI’s nearly 330 associate members include the supplier partners of its retail and wholesale members.
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