Food groups speak out after the President’s budget proposal calls on FDA to collect $166 million in new food facility registration and inspection fees from food producers and distributors in the next fiscal year.
American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) and a coalition of nearly 70 food groups are fighting new potential food taxes that would impact consumer and food makers.
The Coalition has urged the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives to develop a fiscal year (FY) 2017 appropriations bill that funds U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food safety programs without saddling consumers and food makers with burdensome new taxes or fees.
“Food safety is the highest priority for America’s frozen food and beverage makers,” said AFFI Interim President Joseph Clayton. “Providing sufficient federal resources to adequately fund FDA’s critical food safety activities without increasing costs for consumers and food makers is of paramount importance.”
“We urge Congress to again reject these new user fees and provide sufficient funding for FDA food safety activities through the Congressional appropriations process.”
The AFFI-led coalition cautioned that imposing any new food taxes will yield crippling economic effects: “As consumers continue to cope with a period of prolonged economic recovery and food makers and retailers struggle with fluctuating commodity prices, the creation of new food taxes or regulatory fees would mean higher costs for food makers and lead to higher retail food prices for consumers.”
Specifically, the President’s budget proposal calls on FDA to collect $166 million in new food facility registration and inspection fees from food producers and distributors in the next fiscal year.
Joining the American Frozen Food Institute on the letter were the Agribusiness Council of Indiana, American Bakers Association, American Council of Independent Laboratories, American Dairy Products Institute, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Feed Industry Association, American Fruit and Vegetable Processors and Growers Coalition, American Spice Trade Association, Association for Dressings & Sauces, Association of California Egg Farmers, California Cherry Export Association, California Grain and Feed Association, California League of Food Processors, California Pear Growers, California Seed Association, California Warehouse Association, Canned Food Alliance, Cheese Importers Association of America, Corn Refiners Association, Flavor & Extract Manufacturers Association, Florida Feed Association, Inc., Food Marketing Institute, Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, Frozen Potato Products Institute, Global Cold Chain Alliance, Grain and Feed Association of Illinois, Grocery Manufacturers Association, Independent Bakers Association, Institute of Shortening and Edible Oils, International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses, International Bottled Water Association, Juice Products Association, Michigan Agri-Business Association, Michigan Bean Shippers Association, Midwest Food Processors Association, Minnesota Grain and Feed Association, Montana Feed Association, National Association of Manufacturers, National Association of Margarine Manufacturers, National Automatic Merchandising Association, National Confectioners Association, National Fisheries Institute, National Grain and Feed Association, National Grocers Association, National Pasta Association, National Renderers Association, National Turkey Federation, Nebraska Grain and Feed Association, North American Meat Institute, North Dakota Grain Dealers Association, Northwest Food Processors Association, Ohio AgriBusiness Association, Oklahoma Grain and Feed Association, Pacific Coast Renders Association, Pacific Egg and Poultry Association, Peanut and Tree Nut Processors Association, Pet Food Institute, Shelf-Stable Food Processors Association, Snack Food Association, United Dairymen of Arizona, United Egg Producers, United Fresh Produce Association, Texas Food Processors Association, Texas Grain and Feed Association, The Vinegar Institute, West Coast Seafood Processors Association, and Wisconsin Agri-Business Association.
