Say No To User Fees To Fund Food Safety Law



April 5, 2011


WASHINGTON—The United Fresh Produce Association and 16 other organizations representing the fruit and vegetable industry are urging Congress to oppose creation of new "food safety fees" that were included in the president’s 2012 budget proposal so the FDA can implement the new Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

The letter to Chairman of the Agricultural Subcommittee, Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), and Ranking Member, Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.), states "Imposing new fees on food facilities would represent a food safety tax on consumers. As food companies and consumers continue to cope with a period of prolonged economic turbulence, the creation of a new food tax would mean higher costs for businesses and higher food prices for consumers."

To be clear, Citizens for Health opposes user fees in general as a funding mechanism - they create bad policy, and bad law. In this instance, the user fees should be opposed specifically because:

--It is, indeed, a "food safety tax", since the cost will be passed on down to consumers

--The result is that millions of Americans end up subsidizing a power-grab by big Agribusiness

--Congress has received millions of messages urging them to oppose efforts to fund FSMA in the yet-to-be-passed federal budget, or by raising the debt ceiling

--Congress already rejected the concept of user fees during the original debate over the law.

Urge your Representative to stand by Congress' original decision, and to heed the millions of messages they've received from Americans like you, by opposing user fees to fund FSMA. Use the form below to send your message now!


http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/75 ... n_KEY=6431