News Room

Nation’s Food Retailers and Wholesalers Applaud House for Passing National Uniformity for Food Act

March 9, 2006
WASHINGTON, DC — March 9, 2006 — Food retailers and wholesalers across the U.S. applaud the House for approving the National Uniformity for Food Act yesterday evening. “This legislation will deliver much-needed clarity and consistency for consumers in the standards safeguarding America’s food supply,” said Tim Hammonds, president and CEO of the Food Marketing Institute (FMI).

The legislation establishes a system to harmonize myriad state and federal laws governing food safety and warnings to protect consumers. It seeks to eliminate conflicting and inconsistent regulations that subject identical food products to different standards among different states and the federal government.

States can petition the FDA to have their food safety regulations incorporated into the national standards or to have them exempted from the uniformity requirement. State laws would remain in effect during the review process.

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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