THE WHITE HOUSE AT WORK



Tuesday, August 25, 1998

THE CLINTON/GORE ADMINISTRATION:
WORKING TO ENSURE BETTER FOOD SAFETY

Today, I signed an Executive Order establishing the President's Council on Food Safety. To strengthen and focus our efforts to coordinate food safety policy and resources and improve food safety for American consumers, the Council will develop a comprehensive strategic plan for Federal food safety activities, ensure the most effective use of Federal resources through the development and submission of coordinated food safety budgets, and oversee the Joint Institute for Food Safety Research.

President Bill Clinton
August 25, 1998

Today, President Clinton signs an Executive Order creating a President's Council on Food Safety. The Council will develop a comprehensive strategic plan for federal food safety activities and ensure that federal agencies annually develop coordinated food safety budgets. The President will also sign a directive instructing 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.

The President's Council on Food Safety. The President will sign an Executive Order establishing a President's Council on Food Safety. The Council will have three primary functions, including:

Proposing Reforms To The Food Safety System. 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.



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