United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association

Week In Review
March 10, 2000

Table of Contents:

CBS Evening News to Air Hunts Point Story

CBS Evening News will air two segments on the Hunts Point produce inspection crisis Monday, March 13, and Tuesday, March 14. CBS began researching the story in February and contacted the Hunts Point Market, USDA, United and others from the industry. United provided background information on the industry as well as the formation and activities of the Task Force on Produce Industry Inspection Services. CBS interviewed Task Force Chairman, Bruce McEvoy, CEO, Seald-Sweet Growers, Inc. McEvoy convened the Task Force as United’s Chairman of the Board earlier this year. In his comments to CBS, McEvoy addressed potential reforms in the system including improved inspector education and training, use of new technologies such as digital cameras and better computer data tracking, and better internal controls within the inspection service. The Monday night segment will concentrate on the investigation leading up to the arrests on October 27, 1999, and the activities of that day at the market. The Tuesday report focuses on what has been done by USDA – in cooperation with the produce industry – to prevent such a scheme from occurring again. CBS also interviewed Roger C. Viadero, USDA Inspector General; Kathleen Merrigan, USDA AMS Administrator; Western Growers Association, and several industry members for the segments. CBS producers are planning to do a follow-up piece later this year once the “dust settles” when they will concentrate on compensation to the industry and efforts of United's Task Force to work with USDA to improve the inspection service.
Details: Diane Cullo, dcullo@uffva.org

FQPA Reform Legislation Comes Under Attack

United Continues Efforts to Secure Co-Sponsors and Congressional Consideration
As momentum continues to build for legislative reform to the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA), the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and congressional allies held a news conference outlining their opposition to this effort. The participants focused on the false accusations that these legislative efforts would gut the FQPA goals that aim to protect children's health.
“The bills reinforce Vice President Gore’s call for FQPA to be implemented scientifically, through a transparent regulatory process, in consultation with the public and the federal government agencies with a reasonable transition,” said Robert Guenther, United's vice president of government and public affairs. “H.R.1592 and S. 1464 support the fundamental goals of FQPA, ensuring the Act protects public health based on sound science, not political science without amending the added health and safety protections for infants and children.”
H.R. 1592 and S. 1464, both entitled The Regulatory Fairness and Openness Act, were introduced last year after a broad cross-section of industry and grassroots coalitions called upon Congress to use its oversight responsibilities to ensure the proper implementation of the FQPA. Since that time, 212 Members of the U.S. House and 35 Members of the U.S. Senate have co-sponsored these legislative initiatives. To assess pesticides under FQPA, the bills require EPA to use reliable, accurate data about how farmers and others actually use pesticides, rather than theoretical assumptions as is currently being used by the Agency. The bills also clarify the EPA risk assessment process for pesticides so that those who use them do not lose products that are necessary to grow safe, affordable, abundant food, or protect public health and enhance public parks, rights-of-way and outdoor recreational areas.
“With almost 250 congressional cosponsors, The Regulatory Fairness and Openness Act is a broad, bipartisan effort to strengthen food safety, especially for children,” Guenther added. “With the passage of this law, Congress never intended for FQPA to result in significant, unnecessary loss of pesticide uses and safe products. ”
“These legislative efforts also send a strong message to the Agency about the manner in which EPA has implemented FQPA and concerns about the Agency politicizing a process that should be based on sound science,” he concluded.
Details: Robert Guenther, rguenther@uffva.org

USDA To Propose National Organic Standards

On March 7, USDA Secretary Dan Glickman announced a new proposal, for national organic standards saying that they were the most comprehensive and strongest organic standards in the world. “The proposed standards to regulate organic foods should eliminate any confusion as to what products and processes qualify for organic labeling,” said Dr. Donna Garren, United vice president, scientific and technical affairs. The new proposal offers a national definition of the term organic and details the methods, practices, and substances that can be used in producing and handling organic crops and processed products, and also offers labeling criteria and rules. The AMS will issue the proposed rule in the Federal Register, March 13, opening a 90-day comment period on the proposal.
Details: Dr. Donna Garren, dgarren@uffva.org

New Imported Food Safety Legislation Targets Perishable Products

Senator Susan Collins (ME) is planning to re-introduce legislation to establish new enforcement authorities for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in regulating imported food and authorizing funding for food safety research.
The revised bill differs from last year's proposal, S. 1123, Improvements to the Food Safety Import System in that it specifically identifies "perishable products” instead of "foods" in general. “FDA has substantial and sufficient authority under current law to deny the importation of unsafe foods and should not single out any segment of the food industry,” said Dr. Donna Garren, vice president of scientific and technical affairs. “FDA should work cooperatively with foreign governments and grower organizations to assure the adoption of appropriate food safety measures.”
Following the introduction of S. 1123, the bill was referred to the Senate Agriculture Committee and no further action was taken. With the re-introduction of this legislation, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) will now have oversight. “United feels strongly that Congress should be more focused on allocating additional resources to FDA to help the agency accomplish its mission instead of giving the agency authority it already has,” said Robert Guenther, vice president of government and public affairs. “We believe the legislation is unnecessary, would be disruptive to the international marketplace, and that U.S. growers, packers and shippers could not operate as viable exporters if foreign governments chose to exercise the same authority contained in this legislation,” he concluded.
Details: Dr. Donna Garren, dgarren@uffva.org

House Passes Minimum Wage Increase Coupled With Estate Tax Relief

As part of legislation passed this week by the U.S. House of Representatives to increase the minimum wage $1.00 per hour, $122 billion was included for several important tax relief provisions. The Small Business Tax Fairness Act, H.R. 3832, would provide tax relief including reductions in estate tax rates up to 50 percent for many small businesses, repeal of a new installment sales tax law that threatens the retirement security of small business owners who sell their businesses using the installment method, an immediate 100 percent deductibility of the cost of health care for the self-employed, and pension incentives, raise expensing limits and business-meal deductions. "United continues to support elimination of the so called "death tax" and will continue to push to eliminate these excessive and unfair tax burdens," said United's Director of Legislative Affairs Donna Denison.
Details: Donna Denison, ddenison@uffva.org

United Provides Comments on Proposed Dietary Guidelines

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services held a public meeting, March 10, to receive oral comments on the Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. United was one of 27 organizations providing oral comments on the proposed 2000 Dietary Guidelines, along with the Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH). United has worked closely with PBH and the produce industry to ensure that the final guidelines developed reflect sound science and the most recent scientific data relating to the need to increase produce consumption. United's Director of Legislative Affairs Donna Denison remarked on three specific issues to be considered as part of the final Guidelines. They include improvements to more clearly acknowledge scientific findings that support fruits and vegetables as a vital foundation for optimal health; a measurable range of five-to-nine servings of fruits and vegetables per day consistent with the Food Guide Pyramid; and, promoting behavior change that will support optimal health, motivating healthy food choices. The Dietary Guidelines Committee submitted its report to USDA/HHS February 14, and will serve as the basis for the fifth edition of the Federal Dietary Guidelines - Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans. United will also be submitting written comments on the proposed guidelines.
Details: Donna Denison, ddenison@uffva.org

United Responds to Biotechnology Labeling Legislation

In a letter to Senators, United, along with 34 allied trade associations urged Members to reject a recently-introduced measure that would require mandatory labeling for food produced through biotechnology. Senator Barbara Boxer (CA) introduced S. 2080, The Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act, in February. The legislation requires that food containing a genetically engineered material, or produced with a genetically engineered material, must be labeled accordingly. The industry letter, sent to all Members of the Senate, stated that the legislation would result in consumer confusion, not consumer education. “Every food product on a grocery store shelf must meet federal law's requirements for safety and labeling,” stated Dr. Donna Garren, vice president, scientific and technical affairs. “Federal regulation has never required that food labels describe the process by which food is produced. Because the law is aimed at ensuring safe food and informative labels, government has concluded that biotechnology products should not be singled out for special regulatory treatment.” In addition, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (OH) introduced H.R. 3883 earlier this week which would require products of food biotechnology to go through the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) food additive review process. “These biotechnology products are safe and have cleared regulatory hurdles at the FDA, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture,” said United Vice President of Government and Public Affairs Robert Guenther. “These products would not be allowed on the market if they had not met the highest U.S. safety standards.”
Details: Dr. Donna Garren, dgarren@uffva.org