The case for maintaining phytosanitary inspections with DHS

Lee Frankel of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas offers this paper, titled THE CASE FOR MAINTAINING PHYTOSANTIARY INSPECTIONS WITH CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, that offers a contrary view on the Fresh Talk poll this week. Although out polled 6 to zero so far, Frankel says that there are plenty of reasons to keep AQI/border inspection with the Department of Homeland Security.

Here is one argument from the paper:
Training for front line port officials regarding phytosanitary inspections has significantly increased since transfer of inspection function to CBP:

Before the transfer of phytosanitary inspections to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) three years ago, the front line CBP Officers dealing with travelers and commercial carriers received only two hours of training regarding the threat to the United States economy posed by damaging, invasive species. Since that time, training for the CBP Officers handling inspections of the traveling public included 16 hours of basic training and a 4 hour practical exercise course. CBP Officers also receive an additional 8-24 hours of pathway specific agriculture procedures training to help them make better referrals to CBP Agriculture Specialists. It is likely that this point of emphasis during training for new officers will be reduced in the future if CBP is no longer responsible for inspections. Currently CBP Agriculture Specialists (over 2,000) receive 10 weeks of training at the USDA Professional Development Training Center in Frederick, Md. CBP Officers (18,000) act as a force multiplier and refer inspections to the CBP Agriculture Specialists.

Vegas blitz

United Fresh Produce Association's Amy Philpott has been busy today, with four releases from her email address about the upcoming show in Vegas sliding through my overstuffed inbox today.

Some excerpts from a couple of the more newsy items:

Convention Committee, Marketing Partners
To Explore Vegas Opportunities
Mark the Calendar for November 27-28
(Washington, DC) - United Fresh is holding a special Las Vegas Exhibitor Briefing on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 for all current and interested 2008 expo exhibitors. This briefing will follow a special welcome reception hosted by the United Fresh 2008 Convention Committee on November 27 at Bally’s Las Vegas.
Attendees will enjoy the city, network with committee members, learn about United Fresh, Las Vegas 2008, and talk with the experts about ways to maximize business value at this year’s show – the first produce convention in Vegas in 23 years!
During the United Fresh Exhibitor Briefing United Fresh staff will answer questions about the events and business opportunities at United Fresh, Las Vegas 2008. In addition, Jefferson Davis, president of Competitive Edge, and also known as The Tradeshow Turnaround Artist, will present his practical, proven processes for effectively attracting the right attendees to your exhibit and managing visitor interactions to produce meaningful results.

And here....

United Fresh, Las Vegas 2008 Opens Doors
Online Registration Now Available
(Washington, DC) - United Fresh, Las Vegas 2008 opens its doors November 7 with an online guide to all aspects of the convention and an easy-to-use registration system at www.unitedfreshshows.com.
“United Fresh, Las Vegas 2008 is set to include everything produce industry members need to make their businesses grow, including first-rate educational workshops, top speakers, two leading produce industry expositions, formal and informal networking opportunities and more,” said United Fresh Chairman Emanuel Lazopoulos, Del Monte Fresh Produce, in launching this year’s convention registration site.

TK: The first Las Vegas produce show in 23 years should be well attended. but the pivotal question will be exhibitor support. There may be a window of opportunity for United in the trade show business, and scoring a solid success would be a big step in that direction. Judging by my inbox, it won't be for a lack of trying if it doesn't happen.

Harkin: Not all about program crops

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin had a press event this afternoon to remind reporters that the farm bill is more than sugar quotas, dairy supports and direct payments to program crop growers. He highlights the reform of the food stamp benefits and expansion of the fruit and vegetable program, and in the process gives the Administration a jab for objecting to f/v program expansion.
From the office of Sen. Tom Harkin:


Harkin: Farm Bill Nutrition Title Reforms Food Assistance; Expands Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program

Washington, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today discussed the importance of the farm bill’s nutrition title at a press conference on Capitol Hill. Following is the text of his remarks, as prepared for delivery.

“This week and next, the Senate is debating the new farm bill. We must not lose sight of the fact that this is the single most important legislation for fighting hunger, promoting good nutrition, and encouraging better diets for all Americans.

“In my brief time, this morning, let me focus on two big steps forward in the new farm bill’s nutrition title: Reform of America’s biggest food assistance program, and expansion of the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program for low-income school children.

“The Food Stamp Program is long overdue for modernization and reform, and this bill updates it in important ways.

“USDA food assistance has not kept up with inflation or with changes in the real world. For instance, low-income people have the same need to save for their future as other Americans, but current rules force them to spend down their resources to rock-bottom to qualify for food assistance. These punitive rules on family assets have not been meaningfully addressed since the late 1970s.

“This bill reforms the asset rules by increasing the asset limit from $2,000 to $3,500, and also by exempting tax-preferred retirement accounts and educational savings accounts from the asset limit. According to CBO, each of these changes is expected to benefit 100,000 families.

“We also address the erosion of the purchasing power of food stamp benefits that has been occurring since the mid-1990s by increasing the standard deduction in the Food Stamp Program and indexing it for inflation. This will increase food assistance benefits by $1.4 billion over 5 years.

“There is a lot of talk around here about the importance of supporting work and helping low-income families to enter the workforce. But often, we fail to actually match our rhetoric with true support. This bill supports low-incomes families entering the workforce by increasing food stamp benefits to families with very high child care costs by eliminating the current cap on child care expenses of $175 per child per month, and allowing a full deduction for the cost of child care when calculating household income for purposes of eligibility for benefits, providing 100,000 families with an average of $40 in additional food stamp benefits each month.

“Another priority in this bill is to address poor health and nutrition among America’s children, and to confront the childhood obesity epidemic.

“To that end, this bill authorizes a major – I would say historic – expansion of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program for schools, a program that I initiated in the 2002 farm bill.

“In this bill, we make a quantum leap forward for this program. Currently funded at just $9 million per year. This bill provides $1 billion over five years to expand the School Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program to reach nearly 4.5 million children nationwide, with a special focus on high-poverty school districts. This is a major step toward making this program available to every elementary school in America within the next decade.

“I am very disappointed that the Statement of Administration Policy on the farm bill has cited the expansion of this program as one reason for a possible veto. That threat is just plain misguided. If the Administration chooses to argue that providing free, fresh fruits and vegetables to low-income elementary school children is a misuse of federal funds, I certainly welcome that debate.

“It’s not enough to tell kids what they can’t eat. We need to get them hooked for a lifetime on nutritious fresh fruits and vegetables. And that’s exactly what this program is doing in schools all across America.”

Harkin: Solve it

Sen. Tom Harkin is anxious for debate to begin again on the farm bill. What's more, Harkin and others also have planned a press conference this afternoon to rally support for farm bill nutrition issues. From his office:


Harkin Calls on Senate to Resolve Procedural Disputes And Resume Consideration of the Farm Bill

Bill Stalls after Objections Raised Over Irrelevant Amendments; Administration Veto Threat Still Looms

Washington, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today issued the following statement in response to the Senate consideration of the farm bill, which has stalled because of procedural maneuvering.

“This farm bill has already come so far to get to this point. The Senate Agriculture Committee overcame strict budget limitations to craft a bill that is good for America and is fiscally responsible. The Committee delivered a strong, bipartisan measure that maintains farm income protection and makes critical investments in nutrition, conservation, renewable energy and rural development. Yet today, our work has come to a screeching halt over procedural maneuvering to attach amendments to this bill irrelevant to agriculture policy.

“Everyone knows what is at stake in this farm bill debate and the consequences of inaction. While this Senate debates procedure, families in rural communities await broadband access, farmers look for the resources that will help conserve our natural resources and elementary school children await better access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

“With the Administration’s misguided veto threat looming over this bill, we cannot waste one more day – one more minute – debating procedure. I urge all of my colleagues to come together so can we resolve the issues raised by the Administration and bring the advancements in this farm bill to realization.”

Goodbye Bob

You might have seen the news release from the Grocery Manufacturers Association announcing the hiring of Bob Brackett as senior vice president and chief science and regulatory officer.

Here is an additional statement from the FDA:

Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach, Commissioner of Food and Drugs on Dr. Robert Brackett's new position with the Grocery Manufacturers/Food Products Association
Background: Robert Brackett, Ph.D., Director of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, has accepted a position with the Grocery Manufacturers/Food Products Association (GMA/FPA) as Senior Vice President and Chief Science and Regulatory Officer. He will begin his new position at the end of November. The FDA will begin a broad search for a successor.
Bob Brackett has served the American people with distinction and excellence during his career with the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. He has provided exceptional leadership over critical food safety, food defense and nutrition issues during an ever-increasing globalization of the food supply. I am especially appreciative of Bob's management during recent significant food safety issues, including last year's E.coli outbreak linked to fresh spinach. His demonstrated skills have truly set the gold standard. While Bob will be sorely missed here at the FDA, we wish him the very best.

As director of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Brackett's name shows up in The Packer library 48 times over the past few years.

Larry Waterfield wrote the first, an article about Brackett's appointment in June 2001:

FDA names scientist food safety director
Pulled from the agency's own ranks, Robert Brackett will oversee a department with increased funding.
By Larry Waterfield, Washington, D.C., Editor
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Food and Drug Administration has appointed the new director of food safety at the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
In this position, Robert Brackett will oversee all aspects of food safety across the range of the FDA's food safety programs.
"Brackett possesses a high level of expertise in microbiological research, and his experience provides a firm basis for overseeing and strengthening our food safety program," said Bernard Schwetz, principal deputy commissioner of the FDA.
Brackett, a former food scientist at the University of Georgia, has been serving as senior microbiologist in the FDA's Office of Plant and Dairy Foods and Beverages, where he managed food safety issues. He focused on produce and egg safety.
The new food safety director will oversee programs that have grown by millions of dollars in additional funding in the past three years in the wake of the President's Food Safety Initiative and concerns over new microbes and increased illness traced to fruits and vegetables. The FDA is responsible for the safety of domestic and imported fruits and vegetables.
Brackett will report directly to Joseph Levitt, director of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
"This appointment underscores my commitment to a strong, science-based food safety program," Levitt said.


In December 2005, Brackett got after the produce industry for their lack of decisiveness in dealing with food safety. From December 2005:

"Consumers don't care what the cause is, they just don't want any contaminated product. Our job is to encourage the industry to take care of the problem," he said.
Part of that encouragement was a Nov. 4 letter from Brackett specifically addressed to the U.S. lettuce industry and also published on the FDA's Web site.
In the letter, Brackett said the FDA is aware of 18 outbreaks of foodborne illness since 1995 caused by E. coli O157:H7 for which fresh or fresh-cut lettuce was implicated.
Brackett's letter urged timely development of commodity-specific food safety guidance for lettuce and industry commitment to research and communication.
That letter paid immediate dividends in the form of a Dec. 13 meeting in Salinas with lettuce industry leaders and trade association executives about the development of a commodity-specific guidance document.

TK: We don't know who the successor to Brackett will be, but it is hard to imagine a replacement who will bring the level of expertise, clarity and commitment that he provided. I hope it is not a bad sign he is leaving at the outset of the ambitious food safety plans the FDA just laid out.

Farm bill stalled for now

In this Reuters report, it sounds like not much was done on the farm bill yesterday before the debate broke down. This morning I talked with one Washington lobbyist who said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid used a parliamentary procedure called "filling the tree" to limit amendments. Under that procedure, the majority leader picks how many and what amendments will be accepted on the farm bill. Apparently Republican leaders were outraged and pulled out quotes of Reid condemning the "filling the tree" tactic when it was employed by then Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Republican.

Reid said he needs to limit amendments to get the bill passed by Thanksgiving. However, negotiations are going on behind the scenes right now and Republicans and Democrats could come to an agreement on the number of amendments offered. That may allow the now stalled debate to resume later today, the lobbyist said.

In any event, the farm bill will likely debated through the end of next week, as the Senate takes it up and puts it aside to deal with other issues - particularly the conference report on defense appropriations.

The answer: more power

Here is where the rubber meets the road on the FDA's Food Protection Plan. Note the provision for third party inspectors, the authority to regulate food security and defense measures and the call for expanded recall authority. One industry leader said the new authority may also help spur the FDA to quicker reaction times in a recall scenario. For example, it has apparently not been uncommon for there to be significant delays in the issuance of a news release of a food recall because of the back and forth process between the FDA and company officials about the wording of news releases alerting the public of a recall.

From the FDA Food Protection Plan:

ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS THAT INVOLVE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES TO FDA'S AUTHORITY
PREVENT Foodborne Contamination
Allow FDA to Require Preventive Controls to Prevent Intentional Adulteration by Terrorists or Criminals at Points of High Vulnerability in the Food Chain
Authorize FDA to Issue Additional Preventive Controls for High-Risk Foods
Require Food Facilities to Renew Their FDA Registrations Every Two Years, and Allow FDA to Modify the Registration Categories
INTERVENE at Critical Points in the Food Supply Chain
Authorize FDA to Accredit Highly Qualified Third Parties for Voluntary Food Inspections
Require New Reinspection Fee From Facilities That Fail to Meet current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs)
Authorize FDA to Require Electronic Import Certificates for Shipments of Designated High-Risk Products
Require New Food and Animal Feed Export Certification Fee to Improve the Ability of U.S. Firms to Export Their Products
Provide Parity Between Domestic and Imported Foods if FDA Inspection Access is Delayed, Limited, or Denied
RESPOND Rapidly to Minimize Harm
Empower FDA to Issue a Mandatory Recall of Food Products When Voluntary Recalls Are Not Effective
Give FDA Enhanced Access to Food Records During Emergencies