July 3, 1999

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY

                               THE WHITE HOUSE
 
                        Office of the Press Secretary
  _____________________________________________________________
  Embargoed until 10:06 AM EDT
  July 3, 1999
 
 
                                July 3, 1999
 
 
 
  MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
                THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY
 
  SUBJECT:          Safety of Imported Foods
 
 
  While the United States has one of the safest food supplies in the world,
  outbreaks of foodborne illness are still all too prevalent.  Millions of
  Americans are stricken by illness each year from foods they consume, and
  thousands, mostly the very young and the elderly, die as a result.  The
  threats come from a variety of sources, including both imported and
  domestically produced foods.
 
  Foodborne illness is difficult to control in a changing world.  Consumers
  enjoy a greater variety of foods than they did 50 years ago, including a
  greater emphasis on food from all around the world.  Americans also eat
  more foods prepared outside their homes, such as foods prepared in
  grocery stores, restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and day
  care centers.  We also are seeing the emergence of new foodborne
  pathogens such as the highly virulent E. Coli O157:H7.
 
  For these reasons, my Administration has made food safety a high
  priority.  I have requested substantial annual increases to fund food
  safety initiatives such as a nationwide early warning system for
  foodborne illness, increased inspections, and the expansion of food
  safety research, risk assessment, and education.  In January of 1997, I
  directed the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Health and Human
  Services, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to
  identify specific steps to improve the safety of the food supply.  In
  October of 1997, I expanded my initiative to provide special emphasis on
  the safety of domestic and imported fruits and vegetables.  Last year at
  this time, I announced the creation of a Joint Institute for Food Safety
  Research (JIFSR) to develop a strategic plan for conducting food safety
  research and efficiently coordinating all Federal food safety research.
  In August of 1998, I issued an Executive order to create the President's
  Council on Food Safety, which is charged with (1) developing a
  comprehensive plan for all Federal food safety activities, (2) advising
  agencies of food safety priorities and developing coordinated food safety
  budgets, and (3) overseeing the JIFSR.  We have made significant steps
  domestically to help ensure the safety of our food supply.
 
  Today, I am expanding my Administration's food safety efforts even
  further to focus on the safety of imported foods.  While the majority of
  imported food is safe, problems do exist.
  These problems are the result of two major changes.  At the turn of the
  century, relatively few foods were imported, but
  today, we are seeing a dramatic increase in the importation of foods.
  Imports have doubled over the past 7 years and, based on recent trends,
  we expect at least an additional 30 percent increase by 2002.  Finished
  and fully packaged food products
 
                                  more
 
                                                   (OVER)
 
                                  2
 
  account for an increasing proportion of all imported foods and  there has
  been a huge increase in fresh produce from all over the world.
 
  While there is no evidence that imported foods pose more of a risk than
  domestic foods and most importers comply with the applicable
  requirements, there are a few "bad actor" importers who violate the rules
  and work to subvert the system.  We must give the agencies responsible
  for food safety the tools necessary to deal with the importers who try to
  break the rules. While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspects
  domestic facilities, it has, in conjunction with the United States
  Customs Service (Customs), relied primarily on border inspection to
  ensure the safety of imported foods.
 
  I recognize that there are limitations on our resources and statutory
  authority to take measures to protect consumers against unsafe imported
  foods.  Indeed, there are currently bills before the Congress that would
  grant explicit authority to improve the safety of imported foods.  I
  applaud these legislative efforts and will continue to work with the
  Congress to improve our authority and resources.
 
  Nevertheless, consistent with our international obligations, we must take
  whatever scientifically based steps we can to protect the public health
  in this area and provide the necessary tools to ensure the safety of
  imported food.  Specifically, I direct you to take all actions available
  to:
 
     (1)  Prevent distribution of imported unsafe food by means such as
  requiring food to be held until reviewed by FDA;
 
     (2)  Destroy imported food that poses a serious public health threat;
 
     (3)  Prohibit the reimportation of food that has been previously
  refused admission and has not been brought into compliance with United
  States laws and regulations (so called "port shopping"), and require the
  marking of shipping containers and/or papers of imported food that is
  refused admission for safety reasons;
 
     (4)  Set standards for private laboratories for the collection and
  analysis of samples of imported food for the purpose of gaining entry
  into the United States;
 
     (5)  Increase the amount of the bond posted for imported foods when
  necessary to deter premature and illegal entry into the United States;
  and
 
     (6)  Enhance enforcement against violations of United States laws
  related to the importation of foods, including through the imposition of
  civil monetary penalties.
 
  Accordingly, I direct you, in consultation with my Food Safety Council
  and relevant Federal agencies, particularly the Department of Agriculture
  and the United States Trade Representative, to report back to me within
  90 days on the steps you will take in these areas to protect consumers
  from unsafe imported foods.  We must do all that we can to protect
  Americans from unsafe food.
 
 
 
                                   WILLIAM J. CLINTON
 
 
 
                                  # # #
 
 

This is a mirror of the White House press release, July 3, 1999, from the <http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/html/briefroom.html> White House Briefing Room.

President's July 3, 1999 Radio Address

The President Announces New Measures to Prevent Unsafe Food from Entering Our Borders July 3, 1999