CEI Today: Facebook, Chevy Volt Debacle, FDA Over-Regulation
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 07:47AM 
Friday, February 3, 2012
In the News Today
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CEI, Chevy Volt, FDA, Facebook, Regulatory Actions Press Releases
Entries in FDA (30)
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 07:47AM CEI, Chevy Volt, FDA, Facebook, Regulatory Actions CEI Today: Energy & gov't transparency, FDA over-reach, CEI at CPAC
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 07:53AM 
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
In the News Today
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CEI, CPAC, Energy Policy, FDA, Transparency NH HB1650 'MADE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE' LAW WILL ENSURE CONSUMER FOOD CHOICES
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 07:30AM HB 1650 will help protect New Hampshire growers from overreaching federal regulations
CONCORD, N.H.—A bill working its way through the New Hampshire House of Representatives would jumpstart local food production and stimulate small business growth across the state.
This bill, HB 1650-FN, exempts food grown or produced and then sold within the state from federal regulations by establishing a “Made in New Hampshire” brand under state regulations. The brand could be leveraged by small, local businesses to increase sales and promote locally grown products.
“Our state depends on the economic vitality of small businesses, and a one-size-fits-all approach forced on the state from Washington would put New Hampshire out of the farm business,” said Rep. Josh Davenport, R-Newmarket, the prime sponsor of the bill. “The state of New Hampshire is perfectly capable of ensuring the safety of its own small farms and food production businesses. Common sense takes care of problems much more efficiently and effectively than central planning in Washington.”
Ever since its earliest days, New Hampshire has produced agricultural products, such as fresh corn, apples and tomatoes. Some farmers even raise cattle, pigs and chickens. Even as major production moved to wider spaces out west, the state has still held on to its agrarian base. New Hampshire citizens know what they're getting through their local farms and they know their local farmers will always be there for them.
Just last year, the federal Food Safety Modernization Act used the rhetoric of food safety to require growers with more than $500,000 in revenue to register their food businesses or face 10 years in prison. The protectionist law, a gift to large industrial farmers, allows the Food and Drug Administration to force recalls of food and shut down food production facilities. The law also regulates seed cleaning, which may increase the prevalence of genetically modified seeds. If heirloom seeds consequently become more rare, farmers may have to license more genetically modified seeds each year at major expense, and farming already has a small profit margin.
“This federal law is blatant corporate welfare that could damage New Hampshire's ability to produce its own food supply for generations,” Davenport said. "While the federal law appears to have exceptions for small farmers, some of the nuances of the law, such as the requirement for seed-cleaning inspections, will eventually allow powerful corporate farms to weed out their smaller competitors, leaving the population vulnerable and dependent on genetically modified, commercially produced food shipped in from somewhere else.”
HB 1650, the bill introduced by Rep. Davenport to address problems with the federal law, would allow farmers in New Hampshire who sell only to in-state consumers to use a “Made in New Hampshire” label, which would let buyers know that the product falls only under New Hampshire regulations. Local regulators would not be allowed to enact stricter regulations than the state, ensuring that in-state food businesses are lean, productive and safe.
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About Rep. Joshua Davenport
State Rep. Joshua Davenport, a Republican from Newmarket, is focused on legislation to advance the ideals of lower taxes and regulation and limited constitutional government.
Consumer Protection, FDA, Farmers, Food Choices, NH House, Regulatory Actions CEI Weekly: Merry Christmas!
Saturday, December 24, 2011 at 08:12AM 
Friday, December 23, 2011
Feature: Watch our short Christmas video, above!
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CEI, FDA, Free Markets, Political Activism, Regulatory Actions, Unions CEI Daily - BPA and the FDA
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 07:23AM 
BPA
A new study suggests that children exposed to bisphenol A (BPA) may be hyperactive.
Director of Risk and Environmental Studies Angela Logomasini comments.
"[E]ven the authors — who apparently really wanted to find something condemning — note that 'the clinical relevance of these findings is unclear at this point,' and the potential 'benefits' of reducing exposure to BPA-containing food packaging and other products is also 'unclear.' The only real conclusion the authors could draw was that 'findings presented here warrant additional research' — a plea found in most research articles. It might as well say: 'mail the check to…' But even the need for more research should be questioned. BPA is one of the most studied chemicals and the body of research warrants little concern. See CEI’s study on the topic. Research dollars wold probably be better spent elsewhere."
FDA
The Prescription Drug User Fee Act allows the FDA to charge pharmaceutical companies for the regulatory process.
Senior Fellow Gregory Conko comments.
"These fees now account for about a quarter of FDA’s total budget, and close to two-thirds of the drug and biologics regulation budget, which means that Congress views reauthorization as a 'must pass' bill. So, every five years since PDUFA was first enacted in 1992, Congress has seen reauthorization as an opportunity to force through certain other FDA regulatory measures that may or may not be able to pass on their own. Usually, Congress just lards on loads of additional regulatory hurdles. But, sometimes, such as in 1997′s FDA Modernization Act, some of these changes are actually moderately positive."