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UPDATED November 21, 2000

Action Alert!

Stealth Bill in Congress Would Override State Food Labeling & Food Safety Laws

a/k/a "Special-Interest Legislation for the Grocery and Dietary Supplement Industries"

Please make one phone call as soon as possible. This is the most important (a/k/a worst) food-safety legislation of the year. Call the White House comment line, and if you have time, send a letter to your Senator (see below).

On the move: The Republican/food industry-sponsored bill "The National Uniformity for Food Act S. 1155" which would prohibit states from putting warning labels on food that are more stringent than the FDA's standard for labeling. Its sponsors are planning to attach S. 1155 as a rider to to a major spending bill, the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill, S. 2553. Tell the President to veto S. 2553 if S. 1155 is attached.

Contact the President (White House Comment Line 202-456-1111) or by e-mail at President@whitehouse.gov and give them a short message "Veto S. 2553, the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill, if S. 1155. the National Uniformity for Food Bill, is attached."

On 10/17/2000 S. 1155 was placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 951. It will come up for a vote after December 5th.

To contact your Senator for an update on the bill's status or their position, call the Capitol switchboard 202/224-3121

For more information about the bill, see below or
http://www.citizen.org/congress/fda/rollback/ephedrine.htm

Please call the President today, and thanks!

Does your state have standards for irradiated food? Does it restrict the use of chemicals that cause cancer or birth defects in food products? Does it require labeling of foods with genetically modified organisms? Well, maybe it should, because many experts think that our national food safety standards fail to protect consumers. But, a bill that's moving through Congress would severely restrict the ability of state governments to set their own food safety standards.

Under the National Uniformity for Food Act of 2000, S. 1155, states would be allowed to set their own food safety standards for what products and ingredients can and cannot be used only if there is no federal standard in effect. States would not be allowed to institute any of their own requirements for food labeling. States with existing food safety and food labeling standards could petition the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for permission to continue to implement those laws if there is undue burden on interstate commerce, but no new state standards would be allowed.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest has compiled a list of laws and regulations that could be affected by the Senate bill. In addition to California's Proposition 65, they include laws in at least 17 states, including California, Florida, Illinois and Texas, that allow them to set tolerances for food additives that are more stringent than FDA standards.

For example, California's Proposition 65, requires a warning label on all products that contain cancer-causing agents or substances that are toxic to the reproductive system. After the law was imposed, the state used it to force manufacturers to reduce lead levels in calcium supplements.

If S. 1155 becomes law, states could not ban or regulate:

* Food products treated with irradiation--because federal standards allow irradiation.
* Toxic ingredients, such as pesticide residues or chemicals that cause cancer or birth defects.
* "Adulterated" foods. State laws in Illinois and Pennsylvania that regulate processing methods that increase the risk of contaminating eggs would be invalidated.
* Drug use in livestock, even antibiotics also used in humans.
* Food containers that include dangerous substances, such as plastics that are unsafe when they come into contact with food.
* States could not require labeling for GMOs, irradiated foods, foods containing chemicals that cause cancer or birth defects, warnings of dangerous interactions between drugs, etc.
* States could not require labeling of geographic origin (such as country of origin).

Who supports S. 1155

A coalition of industry groups led by the Grocery Manufacturers of America
has been pushing for passage of the legislation for at least a decade. On June 29, 2000, S. 1155 was passed by the Senate Agriculture Committee by a voice vote, with no hearing.

S. 1155 has the following 36 cosponsors:

Abraham, Spencer Allard, Wayne Ashcroft, John Baucus, Max Brownback, Sam Bunning, Jim Burns, Conrad R. Cleland, Max Cochran, Thad Conrad, Kent Coverdell, Paul Crapo, Michael D. Daschle, Thomas A. Enzi, Michael B. Fitzgerald, Peter G. Gorton, Slade Grams, Rod Grassley, Charles E.

Gregg, Judd Harkin, Tom Helms, Jesse Hutchinson, Y. Tim Inhofe, James M. Johnson, Tim Kerrey, J. Robert Lincoln, Blanche Lugar, Richard G. McConnell, Mitch Reid, Harry M. Roberts, Pat (sponsor) Robb, Charles S. Santorum, Rick Sessions, Jeff Shelby, Richard C. Smith, Gordon Warner, John W.

A similar bill has been introduced in the House, H.R. 2129, sponsored by Representative Richard Burr (R-NC), with 112 cosponsors.

To see a complete list of cosponsors for both bills, go to http://thomas.loc.gov, and search "Bill Summary and Status" for S. 1155 and H.R. 2129.

What you can do/Sample letter

1. Call your state's Congressional delegation and ask them to oppose the National Uniformity for Food Act of 2000, S. 1155 and H.R. 2129. If they have cosponsored one of the bills, ask them to remove their name. Any member of Congress can be reached at the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202/224-3121 or find their office phone at House members or Senators.

2. Call Senator Roberts, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) and tell them that you oppose the National Uniformity for Food Act, and insist demand a public debate and Congressional hearings before the bill moves forward.

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SAMPLE LETTER

Date

Re: S. 1155 "National Uniformity for Food Act"

Dear Senator X:

As your constituent I ask you to vote AGAINST S.1155. This bill would not permit states to label or regulate foods, despite the wishes of the state legislatures. S. 1155 suppresses states' rights for the convenience of the grocery industry. S. 1155 is an example of federal power at its worst, and a gross insult to Americans.

I want my state to be able to have tougher labeling laws and food regulations than the federal standard. State laws and regulations have led to better consumer protections, because states can respond faster to new science, and to the wishes of the citizens.

Please vote against S.1155. I would like to receive a response in writing.

Yours truly,

Name and address