October 2, 1997

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

 
Message Creation Date was at  2-OCT-1997 11:39:00
 
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.
 
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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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This is a mirror of the White House press release, October 2, 1997, from the <http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/html/briefroom.html> White House Briefing Room.