DeLauro reaction to Interagency Working Group

While finding the interim report incomplete, Rep. Rosa DeLauro finds some good things in today's Interagency Working Group report on import safety:

“Although I would have preferred that the Administration had not delayed the release of an action plan, this interim report at the very least, is an acknowledgement that a serious problem exists in our food safety system and as such, deserves attention.

“As they say however, the devil is in the details and vague discussions about building blocks and frameworks on how to increase accountability, enforcement and deterrence is helpful, but I hope the action plan that is forthcoming will contain details about how to ensure the safety of imported products.

“Specifically, the action plan should detail how bad actors will be held accountable, how strict safety standards will be developed and enforced, and how such a system would be funded. For example, if the working group proposes moving towards a risk-based inspection system for imports, it should ensure that the system is based on meaningful scientific data – a problem USDA is currently facing. The action plan also should discuss how mandatory recall authority could impact the government’s ability to intervene when a recall occurs.”