PCG-LA joins in the forum discussion
SAN PEDRO – The Office of Advocacy from the US Small Business Administration initiated the roundtable discussion on Food Safety Act on September 24 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in San Pedro, CA.
One of the participants in the forum event was the Philippine Consulate General from Los Angeles (PCG-LA).
Jose Ma. S. Dinsay, the Department of Trade & Industry representative from PCG-LA came to the event to be informed about the proposed rules on the Food Safety Act.
“It’s basically to be aware and get the sense of what the proposed regulation is all about and see if there is any impact on our trade of food here in the US.”
The purpose of the proposed regulation is to continue the growth of exporting food, Dinsay added.
Dinsay stated that the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) would help to boost the economy in the Philippines.
“With this proposed law [FSVPs], it is important for the importer and the exporter from the Philippines to really work together if this law is going to be implemented because the responsibility is to verify the supplier in the Philippines, which is now passed on to the importer, so they should really work together,” the trade representative said.
The FSVP is a regulation issued by the Food and Drug Administration on July 26, 2013 that covers the US importers to purchase food for importing.
The roundtable forum also discusses the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which was signed into law by President Obama on January 4, 2011 and also authorizes by the FDA to ensure the safety inspections of the US food supply imports.
After the 3-hour Food Safety Act discussion, Food, Drug and Health Policy Assistant Chief Counsel Linwood L. Rayford III gave concerns to small business owners.
“My major concern for small businesses is [to make] them aware that these rules [Foreign Supplier Verification Programs and Food Safety Modernization Act] are being created, informing them of what is required and encouraging them to comment to the FDA [Food and Drug Administration] about the potential problems they might have,” Rayford said.
About SBA’s Office of Advocacy
Created by the Congress in 1976, the US Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy was established for small businesses in order to educate them on business information (e.g. research and surveys) and to give them a voice on economic policies.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend September 28 – October 1, 2013 Sec A pg.9)