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GMA President and CEO Outlines Plan to Strengthen Food Safety Systems


WASHINGTON, DC, October 10, 2001 – In testimony before the U.S. Senate today, C. Manly Molpus, president and CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers of America outlined a four-point plan to strengthen the current food safety regulatory structure rather than embarking upon a “radical restructuring” of the agencies charged with overseeing the U.S. food supply.

“GMA is not convinced that scrapping a system that has worked so well for so many years is the best approach, especially when strategies exist to enhance the current system,” said Molpus in testimony delivered today to the Senate Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, Restructuring and the District of Columbia chaired by Senator Richard Durbin, D-Ill. “Providing adequate funding, renewing emphasis on science, improving coordination between agencies and continued innovation to enhance and strengthen our current food safety system is the best course.”

“Before we embark on radical restructuring of the food safety regulatory system, we should be absolutely convinced that there is no better or more efficient way to address the problems. In our view the system is not broken but it does need nourishment,” said Molpus.

Molpus recommended steps that government and industry should undertake to enhance regulation of the food supply including:

· Increased staffing and resources for food safety agencies, especially FDA;

· Committing to a renewed emphasis on scientific research;

· Better coordination of resources and efforts of the agencies that oversee food safety; and

· Improved import inspection with emphasis on countries that pose greatest perceived risks.

“The United States has the safest, most abundant and varied food supply in the world,” said Molpus. “We have achieved this enviable position not by luck or accident, but through the commitment of the food and agricultural industries and generations of dedicated public servants at the federal and state and local levels who work for our food safety regulatory agencies.”

A full copy of C. Manly Molpus’ testimony will be available on GMA’s website at www.gmabrands.com.

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Based in Washington, D.C., the Grocery Manufacturers Association is the voice of more than 300 leading food, beverage and consumer product companies that sustain and enhance the quality of life for hundreds of millions of people in the United States and around the globe.

Founded in 1908, GMA is an active, vocal advocate for its member companies and a trusted source of information about the industry and the products consumers rely on and enjoy every day. The association and its member companies are committed to meeting the needs of consumers through product innovation, responsible business practices and effective public policy solutions developed through a genuine partnership with policymakers and other stakeholders.

In keeping with its founding principles, GMA helps its members produce safe products through a strong and ongoing commitment to scientific research, testing and evaluation and to providing consumers with the products, tools and information they need to achieve a healthy diet and an active lifestyle. The food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industry in the United States generates sales of $2.1 trillion annually, employs 14 million workers and contributes $1 trillion in added value to the economy every year.
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