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HR7291119th CongressWALLET

GRAS Oversight and Transparency Act

Sponsored By: Representative Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

Introduced

Summary

A temporary federal board to audit older GRAS food claims and push removal of unsafe substances. This bill would create a GRAS Review Board to systematically review pre-2000 "generally recognized as safe" designations for food substances. The Board would be able to recommend revocation when safety is not shown and require manufacturers to disclose their prior GRAS determinations.

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  • Food manufacturers would have 90 days to identify each covered pre-2000 GRAS designation and provide requested information. Failure to comply can lead to civil penalties or reclassification of the substance as an unapproved food additive, and manufacturers get up to 180 days to submit safety evidence after a revocation notice.
  • Consumers would gain more safety scrutiny for older GRAS substances through a tiered review process that is scheduled to complete across a 2 to 10 year span depending on priority. The Board must report results and publish recommendations on FDA’s website.
  • FDA, USDA, and EPA officials would sit on the Board to coordinate cross-agency review and oversight. The Board is temporary and would terminate 10 years after enactment.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

New federal review of old food ingredients

This bill would create a GRAS Review Board at HHS to re-check substances manufacturers called GRAS before 2000. Manufacturers would have 90 days after enactment to tell the Board which pre-2000 GRAS designations they made. The Board would sort substances into tier 1, 2, and 3 reviews and publish findings on FDA's website. Tier 1 reviews would be due in 2 years, tier 2 in 4 years, and tier 3 in 10 years. If the Board finds a substance not shown to be safe, it would notify HHS and Congress. The Board would recommend revocation. The Secretary would be able to revoke a designation. The manufacturer would have 180 days to submit safety evidence. The Secretary would set timelines to stop sales and require recalls. Manufacturers that fail to report would be subject to civil penalties or have an ingredient treated as an unapproved food additive. The Board and the Act would end 10 years after enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

NY • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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