Consumer Federation of America today announced that as part of CFA’s annual meeting held last week, its members voted to support a resolution urging the Obama Administration to issue four proposed food safety rules that have now been delayed for over two months.

“On behalf of CFA’s nearly 300 members, we urge the Administration to immediately issue these important food safety proposals,” said Chris Waldrop, Director of CFA’s Food Policy Institute. “The longer these proposals are delayed, the longer it will take to fulfill the promise of the Food Safety Modernization Act, which is intended to better protect consumers from foodborne illness.”

The Administration is now two and a half months overdue on meeting deadlines mandated by Congress. In late February, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced that the review of the four proposals had been extended with no estimated date for completion.

The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law January 4, 2011. In November and December of 2011, FDA delivered to OMB for review proposed rules on preventive controls for food and animal feed, produce safety, and food import safety.  As directed by Congress, FDA is to issue proposed regulations on produce safety and import safety within one year of enactment; the other proposals have implementation deadlines of July 4, 2012.

“Congress granted FDA essential new food safety authorities aimed at preventing foodborne illness and protecting consumers,” Waldrop said. “But consumers won’t be adequately protected if FDA’s proposals are stuck in review. The Administration should release them so that FDA can move forward in the implementation process.”

The text of the CFA resolution reads: “CFA urges the Administration to immediately issue proposed food safety regulations on preventive controls for food and animal feed, produce safety and import safety, as required by the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act.”  CFA’s nearly 300 members include about 100 state and local advocacy and education groups, as well as national advocacy and education groups, consumer cooperative groups, public power groups, and state and local consumer protection agencies. CFA members develop and vote on CFA policy positions annually.