U.S. House Resolution (HR) 7563, named the Food Traceability Enhancement Act, was recently introduced to Congress by Representatives Scott Franklin (R-Florida), Sanford Bishop (D-Georgia), and Jimmy Panetta (D-California). The legislation aims to “strengthen compliance” with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Food Traceability Final Rule through several key changes to its implementation, including delaying the compliance date. The Food Traceability Final Rule fulfills Section 204 of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA 204).
If passed, the bill would ease recordkeeping and traceability lot code (TLC) requirements for restaurants, retail food establishments, and warehouses by removing the requirement to maintain TLC information and provide such information to supply chain partners or to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (the Secretary).