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Retired Files of Nicole Rabner
Special Assistant to the President & Senior Policy Advisor to the First Lady
Box #16 of 16
Issues, Events and DPC
FILES
Food Safety
Food Stamps
Poverty Studies
Race Report
Welfare Reform
Child Support- International Organization Lime
Fatherhood Issues
Trafficking of Women and Children
Museum of Women's History Proposal
Moynihan Bill S2518
WIC Reauthorization
Events- Americorps Anniversary
Events- Seneca Falls Dinner 7/9/98
Events- Washington Lawyers Project
DPC- New Ideas (2 Files)
DPC- Weekly Reports
DPC- Jen Klein's Files- Inventory
ENCLOSURES FILED OVERSIZE ATTACHMENTS
15423
Thisbox filed 3/22/2000 TV
NANA 12896
file
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
March 15, 1999
STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY
The President's Council on Food Safety/ National Academy of Sciences Report
Today the President's Council on Food Safety released its response to the National
Academy of Sciences (NAS) report, "Ensuring Safe Food from Production to Consumption." The
Council response supports all the goals contained in the NAS's recommendations to strengthen
the food safety system.
The National Academy of Sciences report, "Ensuring Safe Food From Production to
Consumption," made three basic conclusions: (1) an effective and efficient food safety system
must be based on science; (2) the current statutes governing food safety should be revised in
order to achieve a food safety system based on science; and (3) Congress should enact legislation
to establish a unified and central framework for managing federal food safety programs, which
should be headed by a single official with responsibility for all federal food safety activities.
The Council agrees with these conclusions and lauds the NAS report as a constructive
contribution to efforts to improve the effectiveness of the federal food safety system through the
strengthening of science and risk assessment, strategic planning, and better federal integration
with state and local governments.
The President stated: "I am committed to ensuring the safety of America's food supply,
and the NAS report will play a key role in our continuing efforts to establish a seamless, science-
based food safety system. I call on Congress to support the changes necessary to make our food
as safe as possible."
The Council responded to each of the recommendations in the NAS report with the
specific assessments briefly described below:
Recommendation: The food safety system should be based on science, The Council
agrees and provides numerous examples where this is already the case, including the
development and implementation of the FoodNet and PulseNet systems for surveillance
and identification of foodborne pathogens and the implementation of new science-based
inspections of meat, poultry, and seafood. The Council has also identified areas that
should be strengthened such as improving the ability to assess health risks from
pathogens in food.
Recommendation: Federal statutes should be based on scientifically supportable risks to
public health. The Council agrees and will call on Congress to work with it to create
scientifically-based statutes to promote food safety. The Council will conduct a thorough
review of existing statutes and determine what can be accomplished with existing
regulatory flexibility and what improvements will require statutory changes.
Recommendation: A comprehensive national food safety plan should be developed. The
development of such a plan is already underway and is one of the primary functions of
the Council. One component of the plan will be exploring methods to assess the
comparative health risks to the nation's food supply.
Recommendation: A new statute should be enacted that establishes a unified framework
for food safety programs with a single official with control over all federal food safety
resources. The Council supports the goal of a unified framework for food safety
programs and will conduct an assessment of structural models and other mechanisms to
strengthen the federal food safety system through better coordination, planning, and
resource allocation.
Recommendation: Agencies should work more effectively with partners in state and local
governments. The Council agrees that the roles of state, tribal, and local governments in
the food safety system are critical and that their efforts deserve the formal recognition
that partnership in a national food safety system conveys.
The President established the Council on August 25, 1998 to develop a comprehensive
strategic plan for federal food safety activities and ensure that federal agencies annually develop
coordinated food safety budgets.
30-30-30
Jason H. Schechter
01/04/99 11:37:45 AM
Record Type:
Record
To:
See the distribution list at the bottom of this message
CC:
Subject: Fact Sheet: Food Safety in FY 2000 Budget Proposal
Food Safety in FY 2000 Budget Proposal
President Clinton will recommend increasing funds for food safety by $105 million -- or 12
percent -- in his fiscal 2000 budget proposal. If enacted, the budget would result in a third
year of significant growth in government efforts to prevent potentially deadly foodborne illness
by putting into place a modern, science-based food safety system involving improved
inspection, surveillance, research, and education activities. The new funds are to be shared by
the Department of Agriculture (USDA), which would receive $65 million, and the Department
of Health and Human Services, which would receive $40 million.
Improving Domestic and International Food Safety Inspections
The President's proposal would significantly expand inspections of domestic food products.
New funds for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which protects the safety of all food
products except meat and poultry, would enable the agency to use more than 60 new
inspectors to inspect, at least once each year, every domestic manufacturer of high-risk food
products (generally, products that are not cooked by consumers). Currently, these
manufacturers are inspected every three to four years. Additional funds for USDA
would permit the broad expansion of its science-based, prevention-oriented meat and poultry
inspection system, called Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), which already has
significantly reduced contamination in these food products. HACCP is now in effect at the
nation's 300 largest meat and poultry facilities. USDA would use the proposed new funds to
introduce HACCP at 2,700 smaller plants (those employing 10 to 499 employees), which
would mean that 90 percent of all meat and poultry will be covered.
The President's budget would also increase scrutiny of imported food products. Under the
proposal, the FDA would more than double the number of inspections conducted of foreign
food processors. In addition, FDA technical experts will work with food safety officials
abroad to ensure that their food-growing, processing, and transportation systems meet high
standards for safe production. The President will also continue to push Congress to pass
legislation enabling the FDA to cut off all imports from foreign countries whose food safety
systems are not equivalent to those in this country.
Public Health Research and Surveillance
The President's budget includes a significant component for surveillance and research
activities. To help officials track pathogens back to their source and prevent outbreaks of
foodborne illnesses from spreading, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will use new funds
to almost double the number of laboratories that do "DNA fingerprinting" of foodborne
pathogens. FDA and USDA also will use new funds to expand research to develop more
effective ways of testing for and identifying dangerous contaminants such as Salmonella and
Cyclospora.
-more-
A Record of Accomplishment
The President's proposal builds on a strong record of actions to ensure that Americans eat the
safest possible food. Last year, the President proposed a $101 million increase in
food-safety funding, more than $80 million of which was ultimately approved by
Congress in the final budget. The Administration has put in place improved safety
standards for meat, poultry, and seafood product, and has begun the process of
developing enhanced standards for fruit and vegetable juices.
###
Message Sent To:
FOODA081.098
Page 1
PRESIDENT CLINTON SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER
CREATING COUNCIL ON FOOD SAFETY
August 24, 1998
President Clinton today will sign an Executive Order to create a President's Council
on Food Safety, which will develop a comprehensive strategic plan for federal food
safety activities and ensure that federal agencies annually develop coordinated food
safety budgets. The President also will sign a directive to the Council to review the
recently issued National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report, "Ensuring Safe Food
from Production to Consumption," and to report back with its response to the
report, including appropriate additional actions to improve food safety.
President's Council on Food Safety. The President will sign an Executive Order
establishing a President's Council on Food Safety (Council). The Council will have
three primary functions, including: (1) developing a comprehensive strategic federal
food safety plan; (2) advising agencies of priority areas for investment in food
safety and ensuring that federal agencies annually develop coordinated food safety
budgets; and (3) overseeing the recently established Joint Institute for Food Safety
Research and ensuring that it addresses the highest priority research needs.
Comprehensive strategic federal food safety plan. The Council will develop a
comprehensive plan to improve the safety of the nation's food supply by
establishing a seamless, science-based food safety system. The plan will
address the steps necessary to achieve this improved system, focusing on
key public health, resource, and management issues and including
measurable outcome goals. The planning process will consider both short
and long-term issues including new and emerging threats and the special
needs of vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly. In
developing this plan, the Council will consult with all interested parties,
including state and local agencies, tribes, consumers, producers, industry,
and academia.
Coordinated federal food safety budgets. Consistent with the comprehensive
strategic federal food safety plan, the Council will advise agencies of priority areas for
investment in food safety and ensure that federal agencies annually develop
coordinated food safety budgets. This coordinated food safety budget
process will sustain and strengthen existing activities, eliminate duplication,
and ensure the most effective use of resources for improving food safety.
Oversight of federal food safety research efforts. The Council will ensure that
the Joint Institute for Food Safety Research addresses the highest priority
food safety research gaps. The Institute will report, on a regular basis, to
the Council on its efforts to conduct and coordinate food safety research
activities and will receive direction from the Council on research needed to
FOODA081.098
Page 2
establish the most effective possible food safety system.
Review of NAS Report. The President will direct the Council, as one of its first
orders of business, to review the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report,
"Ensuring Safe Food from Production to Consumption." After providing opportunity
for public comment, including public meetings, the Council will report back to the
President within 180 days with its response to the NAS report. The Council's
report will consider appropriate additional actions to improve food safety, including
proposals for legislative reform of the food safety system.
Public Meeting to Develop Comprehensive Strategic Plan for Federal Food Safety
Activities. The Clinton Administration will publish notice of the first public meeting,
to be held on October 2 in Arlington, Virginia, to begin development of the
Council's comprehensive strategic plan for federal food safety activities. The
meeting will engage consumers, producers, industry, food service providers,
retailers, health professionals, State and local governments, Tribes, academia, and
the public in the strategic planning process.
FOODA081.098
Page 3
Clinton Administration Accomplishments In Improving Food Safety
The President's announcement builds on a strong record of food safety initiatives,
ensuring that Americans eat the safest possible food. The Administration has put
into place improved safety standards for meat, poultry, and seafood products, and
has begun the process of developing enhanced standards for fruit and vegetable
juices. The Administration also has expanded research, education, and surveillance
activities throughout the food safety system.
* *July 1998. President creates a Joint Institute of Food Safety Research which will
develop a strategic plan for conducting and coordinating all federal food safety
research activities, including with the private sector and academia.
*February 1998. Administration announces its proposed food safety budget,
which requests an approximate $101 million increase for food safety initiatives.
*May 1997. Administration announces comprehensive new initiative to improve
the safety of nation's food supply "Food Safety from Farm to Table" -- detailing a
$43 million food safety program, including measures to improve surveillance,
outbreak response, education, and research.
* *January 1997. President announces new Early-Warning System to gather critical
scientific data to help stop foodborne disease outbreaks quickly and to improve
prevention systems.
*August 1996. President signs Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996. The law
requires drinking water systems to protect against dangerous contaminants like
Cryptosporidium, and gives people the right to know about contaminants in their
tap water.
*August 1996. President signs Food Quality Protection Act of 1996, which
streamlines regulation of pesticides by FDA and EPA and puts important new
public-health protections in place, especially for children.
*July 1996. President announces new regulations that modernize the nation's
meat and poultry inspection system for the first time in 90 years. New standards
help prevent E.coli bacteria contamination in meat.
* *December 1995. Administration issues new rules to ensure seafood safety,
utilizing HACCP regulatory programs to require food industries to design and
implement preventive measures and increase the industries' responsibility for and
control of their safety assurance actions.
*1994. CDC embarks on strategic program to detect, prevent, and control
FOODA081.098
Page 4
emerging infectious disease threats, some of which are foodborne, making
significant progress toward this goal in each successive year.
*1993. Vice-President's National Performance Review issues report recommending
government and industry move toward a system of preventive controls.
Clinton to Appoint Council
To Oversee Safety of Food
By IRVIN MOLOTSKY
nology
WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 - Presi-
Serving as members of the council
dent Clinton will appoint a high-level
will be the Secretary of Commerce,
council to oversee food safety in the
the Director of the Office of Manage-
United States, an activity now per-
ment and Budget, the Administrator
formed separately by a dozen agen-
of the Environmental Protection
cies, a senior White House official
Agency, the Assistant to the Presi-
said today.
dent for Domestic Policy and the
The official said Mr. Clinton would
Director of the National Partnership
sign an executive order on Tuesday
for Reinventing Government.
establishing the council, which would
Officials of consumer and industry
have the responsibility of coordinat-
organizations, who had not yet seen
ing enforcement, research and edu-
the final order, praised its thrust, but
cational activities but would not have
with some reservations.
the authority to do any of those
Caroline Smith DeWaal, director
things on its own.
of food safety at the Center for Sci-
Although the United States is gen-
ence in the Public Interest, a con-
erally regarded as having one of the
sumer group, lamented the choice of
safest food supplies in the world,
a three-headed council over a strong
there are frequent outbreaks of ill-
individual as recommended in the
nesses, many of them fatal, caused
scientists' report.
by harmful substances in food. In
But Ms. DeWaal added: "We think
recent years a strain of bacteria
that this is acceptable as a tempo-
known as E. coli 0157 H7 has caused
rary measure, a first step. The re-
many illnesses and deaths.
port clearly found weaknesses in
The Government until recently has
how we currently inspect food. This
shown little leadership in dealing
is modestly better."
with illnesses caused by unwhole-
Timothy Willard, the spokesman
some food. There is a patchwork of
of the National Food Processors As-
weak state agencies as well as a
sociation, said the appointment of the
Federal bureaucracy that focused
council "seems to be moving in the
more on reacting to outbreaks than
right direction."
on preventing them. The new execu-
The industry official was pleased
tive order places emphasis on pre-
that the program would not be led by
vention.
a single person. "When you have a
The New York Times
TUESDAY. AUGUST 25. 1998
In a report issued last week by the
czar, that would probably create a
Institute of Research and the Nation-
new bureaucracy," he said. "It is
al Research Council, two groups that
advise the Government on science,
important to keep politics out of food
the number of deaths caused by food-
safety."
The White House official said Con-
borne organisms was estimated at
9,000 a year, a figure that is disputed
gress would not be asked to provide
by the food industry as too high.
additional money to run the council.
The chairman of the panel that
When asked why the President
produced the report, Dr. John C. Bai-
was creating the council by execu-
lar 3d of the University of Chicago,
tive order instead of asking Congress
said, "The United States has some of
to institute it with legislation, she
the attributes of an effective food
answered: "When the law allows us
safety system, but it lacks a central
to put in place a mechanism with an
authority and is hampered by old
executive order, we are going to act
laws that don't allow flexible re-
to achieve our objectives. Current
sponses to today's threats."
law does allow us to put it in place."
The organizations, arms of the Na-
Left unsaid was the likelihood that
tional Academy of Science, called in
the Republican-controlled Congress
its report for the appointment of one
would refuse to pass legislation im-
individual to oversee food safety, a
posing further regulation.
czar in current government argot.
Rahm Emanuel, a senior adviser
Instead, the President will name a
to President Clinton, said today that
troika to lead the new council, which
the creation of the council was an
is not expected to require any new
important part in Mr. Clinton's ef-
Federal money.
forts to make food safety a high
Mr. Clinton will appoint three co-
priority.
chairmen of what will be called the
"Basically, the system has been
President's Council on Food Safety.
unchanged since Teddy Roosevelt
They will be the Secretary of Agri-
put it in place," Mr. Emanuel said.
culture, the Secretary of Health and
"It's another chapter in the Presi-
Human Services and the Assistant to
dent's efforts to modernize the na-
the President for Science and Tech-
tion's food safety system."
PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCES INTRODUCTION OF SENATE FOOD
SAFETY LEGISLATION AND REPORT TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF
IMPORTED AND DOMESTIC FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
March 4, 1998
Today President Clinton will announce the introduction of legislation by Senators Milkulski and
Kennedy to ensure the safety of all imported foods, including fruits and vegetables. This legislation
will enhance the Food and Drug Administration's authority to prevent the import of fruits,
vegetables, and other food products that do not meet U.S. food safety requirements. The President
also will announce the release of a report that provides a blueprint on how the Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) will work cooperatively
with the agricultural community to develop guidance on good agricultural and manufacturing
practices for fruits and vegetables.
Enhanced FDA Oversight for Imported Foods. The President will call on Congress to pass the
food safety legislation to be introduced today in the Senate to give the FDA greater authority over
imported foods. This legislation will ensure that the FDA halts imports of fruits, vegetables, and
other food products from any foreign country with food safety systems that do not provide the same
level of protection required for U.S. products. The legislation also permits the FDA to consider
refusal of inspection as a factor in halting imports from a country or facility. This legislation gives
FDA authority that is comparable to USDA's existing authority to prevent the importation of unsafe
meat and poultry. The President already has committed to providing approximately $25 million in
his Fiscal Year 1999 budget to enable the FDA to dramatically expand its international food
inspection force in order to implement this legislation. Reps. Eshoo and Pallone previously have
introduced this legislation in the House of Representatives.
Development of Guidance on Good Agricultural and Manufacturing Practices. The President
will announce the release of a report on how the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in
partnership with the Secretary of Agriculture and in cooperation with the agricultural community,
will develop guidance on good agricultural and manufacturing practices. This report outlines the
progress already made --and the measures that must still be taken --to develop guidance for the
growing, processing, shipping, and marketing of fruits and vegetables by October 1998. The
guidance --the first-ever specific safety standards for fruits and vegetables --will address potential
food safety problems throughout the production and distribution system and help ensure the
sanitation and safety practices of all those seeking to sell produce in the U.S. market. The report also
provides both short-and long-term plans for technical assistance, education, and outreach activities
to support the appropriate application of the guidance.
Clinton Administration Accomplishments In Improving Food Safety
The President's announcement builds on a strong record of food safety initiatives, ensuring that
Americans eat the safest possible food. The Administration has put into place improved safety
standards for meat, poultry, and seafood products, and has begun the process of developing enhanced
standards for fruit and vegetable juices. The Administration also has expanded research, education,
and surveillance activities throughout the food safety system.
*February, 1998. Administration announces its proposed food safety budget, which requests an
approximate $101 million increase for food safety initiatives.
*May, 1997. Administration announces comprehensive new initiative to improve the safety of
nation's food supply --"Food Safety from Farm to Table" --detailing a $43 million food safety
program, including measures to improve surveillance, outbreak response, education, and research.
*January, 1997. President announces new Early-Warning System to gather critical scientific data
to help stop foodborne disease outbreaks quickly and to improve prevention systems further.
*August, 1996. President signs Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996. The law requires drinking water
systems to protect against dangerous contaminants like cryptosporidium, and gives people the right
to know about contaminants in their tap water.
*August, 1996. President signs Food Quality Protection Act of 1996, which streamlines regulation
of pesticides by FDA and EPA and puts important new public-health protections in place, especially
for children.
*July, 1996. President Clinton announces new regulations that modernize the nation's meat and
poultry inspection system for the first time in 90 years. New standards help prevent E.coli bacteria
contamination in meat.
*December, 1995. Administration issues new rules to ensure seafood safety, utilizing HACCP
regulatory programs to require food industries to design and implement preventive measures and
increase the industries' responsibility for and control of their safety assurance actions.
*1994. CDC embarks on strategic program to detect, prevent, and control emerging infectious
disease threats, some of which are food borne, making significant progress toward this goal in each
successive year.
* 1993. Vice-President's National Performance Review issues report recommending government
and industry move toward a system of preventive controls.
FOOD SAFETY ACCOMPLISHMENTS SINCE JANUARY 1998
Increased FDA Inspection Authority. On March 4, 1998, the President announced the
introduction of legislation by Senators Milkulski and Kennedy to ensure the safety of all
imported foods, including fruits and vegetables. This legislation will enhance the Food and
Drug Administration's authority to prevent the import of fruits, vegetables, and other food
products that do not meet U.S. food safety requirements. This legislation is consisent with
the President's announcement last October, calling for increased FDA inspection authority.
The President also announced the release of a report that provides a blueprint on how the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Agriculture
(USDA) will work cooperatively with the agricultural community to develop guidance on
good agricultural and manufacturing practices for fruits and vegetables.
Increased Safety for Juices. In April 1998, the Administration announced two proposed
regulations by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to improve the safety of fruit and
vegetable juices. The first regulation would require that all fruit and vegetable juice
processors implement a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system which
will ensure that processors take extra steps to reduce the numbers of microorganisms that
may be in their products. (Retailers of packaged juice, as well as processors who sell less
than 40,000 gallons of fresh juice per year, would be exempt from this requirement.) The
second proposed rule would require any packaged untreated juice to be labeled with a
warning statement advising consumers of the potential risks of juice that has not been
processed to eliminate dangerous bacteria. This requirement will apply to retail and other
processors who package untreated juice for consumption off-site --such as grocery stores that
squeeze and bottle juice for home use. But retail sellers of juice for consumption on-site --
such as restaurants and children's lemonade stands --will be exempt from this labeling
requirement. Although 98 percent of juice sold in the United States is pasteurized, the FDA
estimates that there are up to 48,000 juice-related illnesses per year.
Reforming Proposed Rule for Organic Food. On May 8, 1998, the Department of
Agriculture announced that it would make fundamental changes to its proposed national
organic standards as a result of comments received on the initial proposal. USDA announced
that biotechnology, irradiation, and biosolids would not be included in the revised proposal,
and food produced with these products and practices would not be allowed to bear the
organic label. Before publishing the revised proposal, USDA will evaluate the comments
submitted in response to the December 1997 proposal. This record will guide the drafting
of the revised proposal, which USDA will issue for public comment later this year.
SUNTUM M @ A1
10/02/97 11:38:00 AM
Record Type:
Record
To:
See the distribution list at the bottom of this message
CC:
Subject: 1997-10/2 remarks by President on food safety
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
October 2, 1997
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
ON FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS
The Rose Garden
10:59 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Mr. Vice President, Secretary
Shalala, Deputy Secretary Rominger, Cathie Woteki, Dr. Friedman, all
the representatives of the groups that have helped us come to this
day.
Our government made a fundamental promise to the
American people of a bountiful and safe food supply way back at the
beginning of this century. It is a promise that we have had to renew
our commitment to periodically over the years, and a promise that
needed a lot of work when I became President. From the day I took
office, I worked very hard to honor that commitment, to make our food
supply -- the world's safest -- even safer.
In 1993, the Vice President's national performance
review recommended an overhaul of our food safety procedures so that
we could use the best scientific technology available in inspection
methods, to make sure that we had put in the best preventive controls
to keep our food supply the world's safest.
Since then, we have taken major steps. We first put in
place rigorous new safety standards for seafood, meat and poultry
products, throwing out archaic and ineffective methods of inspection
that had not been updated for nearly a century. We've required
slaughterhouses to test for deadly E. Coli and salmonella bacteria.
We've begun developing new safety standards for fruit and vegetable
juices. We've strengthened our system of guaranteeing that our
drinking water will remain safe, and improved public health
protections for pesticide uses on food. And we brought a host of
federal agencies together to boost food safety research, education
and surveillance efforts around our nation. In so doing, we're using
the world's best science to help prevent food contamination tragedies
before they happen, to make sure our supply of food is as safe as it
can be.
Today, our food supply remains the world's safest, but
we can't rest on those accomplishments. We have to do more. At the
time when Americans are eating more and more food from around the
globe, we must spare no effort to ensure the safety of our food
supply from whatever source.
Today, I want to tell you the new steps we're taking to
ensure that our fruits and vegetables, including those imported from
other countries, meet the highest health and safety standards.
First, I'm asking Congress to give the Food and Drug Administration
the power and the obligation to ban the importation of fruits,
vegetables and other foods from countries whose safety precautions do
not meet American standards. This new law would be similar to a law
that already requires the United States Department of Agriculture to
keep meet and poultry from countries with inferior food safety
systems out of our stores.
In my next budget, I will provide enough funds to ensure
that the FDA can fully implement this new legislation by dramatically
expanding its international food inspection force. With these
efforts, we can make sure that no fruits and vegetables cross our
borders, enter our ports, or reach our dinner tables without meeting
the same strict standards as those grown here in America. Our food
safety system is the strongest in the world, and that's how it's
going to stay.
I'm also directing the Secretary of Health and Human
Services and the Secretary of Agriculture to work together in close
cooperation with the agricultural community to develop the first-ever
specific safety standards for the growing, processing, shipping and
selling of fruits and vegetables. These standards will address
potential food safety problems throughout the production and
distribution system, and they'll improve the sanitation and safety
practices of all those seeking to sell produce in the United States
market.
I'm asking Secretary Shalala and Glickman to report back
to me within 90 days with a complete schedule for developing these
standards within a year. I'll also ask them to submit a
comprehensive plan to improve the monitoring of food safety programs
abroad, to help foreign countries upgrade their safety precautions
and toughen food inspections at the border.
Being a parent is perhaps the toughest job in the world.
Our parents deserve the peace of mind that comes from knowing the
food they set before their children is safe. With today's new
actions, we can help make their jobs much easier.
And, again, let me thank all of those who were involved
in this effort as I sign this order. Thank you very much.
(The order is signed.)
THE PRESIDENT: Thanks. (Applause.)
Q Mr. President, will you be using the line item veto
THE PRESIDENT: Excuse me?
Q Will you be using the line item veto on any of the
appropriations bills that you've just passed that you've just
signed?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, let me say, I have received only
-- I've received one memorandum for my staff on one bill. And that
came in late last night, so I haven't read it. But I will consider
it as the bills come in, I will ask for a review of the potential
uses by specific bill and make judgments as we go along. I have
nothing to report at this time, because I have received only one
memorandum and I haven't read it.
Q What about the census, sir? Do you have any
concerns concerning the Commerce bill and the particular ways that
the money will be used for the census?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, my feeling is that we ought to do
the census as well as we can. I don't think this is a complicated
issue. The National Science Foundation has recommended this
statistical sampling method. The man who did President Bush's census
says that it's the only way to get the most accurate count. I just
want to do whatever the Census Bureau believes, the full-time
professionals, believe is the most accurate thing to do.
I think that's a heavy constitutional responsibility we
have, to conduct a census that is as accurate as possible based on
what the professionals say. This ought to be a professional, not a
political judgment. And that's the position I will take throughout.
Q Mr. President, did the Democratic Party send money
to the states because of federal election law restrictions?
Q Mr. President, there are fresh fruit and vegetables
producers that are saying --
THE PRESIDENT: Well, wait a minute. I'll take both of
them. Go ahead first.
Q There are fresh fruit and vegetable producers that
are saying that you're acting with this action as the world food
police and that your actions here today are unwarranted and that's
going to complicate the trade environment.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I hope it doesn't complicate the
trade environment. But, you know, it seems to me that we have no
higher responsibility than to protect the health and safety of our
citizens, and everyone who has been following all of your reporting
over the last four or five years knows that we have had continuing
challenges in food safety. We have millions of people who get sick
every year. And we're not trying to unfairly target foreign
producers of food into our market; we don't ask them to meet any
standards we don't meet. And indeed, if you look at the actions of
this administration over the last four years, when we started, I
think you can make a compelling case that we started working on
things that were problems coming out of the American market first.
So I just don't think that's right.
I don't want it to complicate the trade environment, but
I'm not interested in trade in things that will make the American
people sick,
Q Mr. President, did the Democratic National
Committee send money to the states in order to get around the federal
spending limits that went along with accepting federal money for the
national campaign, sir?
THE PRESIDENT: It's my understanding that everything
the Democratic National Committee did had the prior approval of the
lawyers. If they cleared it all in advance, then it was perfectly
legal. And when this issue was raised about a year ago, the exact
issue, I believe that that was clarified at that time. I'm sure that
they had legal advice that they followed, and I believe the
Republicans said that they did some of the same things and also had
prior legal clearance.
Q Mr. Clinton, do you that Mrs. Reno she's been
advised to go forward with the 90-day investigation into the
fundraising calls of the Vice President -- and perhaps Mr. Gore would
like to comment, too
THE PRESIDENT: I think that
Q
-- do you feel that the 90-day investigation would
be helpful?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, if you read the statute, she can
consider certain things in the 90-day period that are not permitted
in the 30-day period. But I think this is a legal question and it
should be done based on an independent legal review with no pressure
from the outside, from me or from anyone else. And that's the way I
intend to keep it, at least on my part.
Thank you.
END
11:09 A.M. EDT
Message Sent To:
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
October 2, 1997
October 2, 1997
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
SUBJECT:
Initiative to Ensure the Safety of Imported and
Domestic Fruits and Vegetables
American consumers today enjoy the safest food supply in the world, and I am proud of my
Administration's record in this area. We have taken significant steps to ensure that we maintain
the safest food possible. We have put in place improved safety standards for meat, poultry, and
seafood products, and we have begun the process of developing enhanced safety standards for
fruit and vegetable juices. We have also expanded research, education, and surveillance
activities through coordinated efforts of all agencies involved in food safety issues. Together,
these measures will greatly improve the safety of the Nation's food supply.
We need to build on these efforts, and today I ask you to do so by focusing on the safety of fruits
and vegetables. Although the produce Americans eat is very safe, we can and must do even
better, especially at a time when Americans are eating more fruits and vegetables from all over
the world. Last year, 38 percent of the fruit and 12 percent of the vegetables consumed by
Americans came from overseas. We must ensure that fruits and vegetables coming from abroad
are as safe as those produced in the United States, especially as we upgrade our own domestic
standards.
To help accomplish this task, I plan to send to the Congress proposed legislation that will require
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to halt imports of fruits, vegetables, or other food from
any foreign country whose food safety systems and standards are not on par with those of the
United States. This legislation, which will be similar to existing law requiring the USDA to halt
the importation of meat and poultry from such countries, will enable the FDA to prevent
the importation of potentially unsafe foreign produce. My Fiscal Year 1999 budget will provide
the necessary funds to enable the FDA to expand dramatically its international food inspection
force. With this greatly increased ability to inspect food safety conditions abroad and at points of
entry, the FDA will be able to determine when to halt the importation of fruits and vegetables
from foreign countries.
Today, I hereby direct two administrative actions that will better ensure the safety of fruits and
vegetables coming from abroad, while continuing to improve the safety of domestic produce.
more
(OVER)
2
First, I direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in partnership with the Secretary of
Agriculture and in close cooperation with the agricultural community, to issue within 1 year from
the date of this memorandum, guidance on good agricultural practices and good manufacturing
practices for fruits and vegetables. This guidance should address ways to prevent potential
sources of contamination, should take into account differences in both crops and regions, and
should address food safety issues throughout the food production and distribution system. By
providing the first-ever specific safety standards for fruits and vegetables, the guidance will
improve the agricultural and manufacturing practices of all those seeking to sell produce in the
U.S. market. To ensure that this guidance has the widest possible effect, I also direct the
development of coordinated outreach and educational activities.
Second, I direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Agriculture, to
report back to me within 90 days from the date of this memorandum with a status report and
complete schedule for the good agricultural and manufac-turing practices, and a plan on how to
improve the monitoring of agricultural and manufacturing practices abroad, to assist foreign
countries to improve those practices where necessary, and to prevent the importation of unsafe
produce, including by detecting unsafe food at the dock or border. I especially urge you to
consider the best ways to target inspection and testing toward those areas where problems are
most likely to occur.
In addition to taking these actions, you should accelerate whatever food safety research is
necessary to support them. You should also call upon the Environmental Protection Agency, the
Department of Labor, and other agencies as necessary to provide you with assistance in
achieving this goal. These steps, taken together and in coordination with the proposed legislation
I will send to the Congress, will improve the safety of fruits and vegetables for all Americans.
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
###
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FAX NO. 9737831524
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No.
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JUN-17-98 WED 12:32 PM RABNER ALLCORN
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12 MRS. MOWATT RITCHIE.
23. PRESCOTT.
31. MRS. KIRKLAND
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12. MRS. MOWATT RITCHIE.
23. PRESCOTT.
31. MRS. KIRKLAND
2. BRYANT.
13. ALICE CAREY.
24. DANCROFT.
35. WHITTIER.
3. COOPER
14. PRENTICE.
25. PARKE GODWIN.
36. LOWELL
JUN-17-98 WED 12:32 PM RABNER
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26. MOTLEY.
37. BOKER
5. MISS SEDGWICK.
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27. BEECHER.
39. BAYARD TAYLOR.
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41. SIRS AMELIA WELDY.
9. WILLIS.
20. SIMMS.
31. MARGARETFULLER (OSSOLI).
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10. HOLMES.
21. P. PENDLUTON COOKE.
32. CHANNING
43. COZZENS.
11. KENNEDY.
22 HOFFMAN
33 MRS. STOWE
41 HALLECK
Pain 456-2369
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AbbieCrates
No.
No.
No.
JUN-17-98 WED 12:32 PM RABNER ALLCORN
No:
1. IRVING.
12 MRS. MOWATT RITCHIE.
23. PRESCOTT
31. MRS. KIRKLAND
2. BRYANT.
13. ALICE CAREY.
24. DANCROFT.
35. WHITTIER.
3. COOPER
14. PRENTICE.
25. PARKE GODWIN.
36. LOWELL.
4. LONGFELLOW.
15. G. W. KENDALL
26. MOTLEY.
37. BOKER
5. MISS SEDGWICK.
16. MORRIS.
27. BEECHER.
39. BAYARD TAYLOR
G. MRS. SIGNERNEY
17. POE.
28. CURTIS.
30. SAXE.
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18. TUCKERMAN.
29. EMERSON.
40. STODDARD.
8. MITCHELL
10. HAWTHORNE
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41. SIRS AMELIA WELBY.
9. WILLIS.
20. SIMMS.
31. MARGARET FULLER (OSSOLI).
12, GALLAGHER.
10. HOLMES.
21. P. PENDLUTON COOKE.
32. CHANNING
43. COZZENS.
11. KENNEDY
22 HOFFMAN
33 MRS. STOWE
4.1 HALLECK
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