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FDA Food Safety Modernization Act

Public Law 111-353 · H.R. 2751 · 111th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Barack Obama (D) on Jan 4, 2011 · Transportation and Public Works

Major law

Sponsor: Rep. Betty Sutton (D-OH-13)

Cosponsors (59): Rep. Steve Israel,

Passage votesYeaNay

  • HouseRecorded vote: 215 yea, 144 nay215–144
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

FDA Food Safety Modernization Act - Title I: Improving Capacity to Prevent Food Safety Problems - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to expand the food safety activities of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), including to authorize the Secretary to inspect records related to food.

Exempts certain establishments that sell food directly to consumers, such as roadside stands, farmers markets or participants in a community supported agriculture program, from specified requirements of this Act.

Requires each owner, operator, or agent in charge of a food facility to identify and implement preventive controls to significantly minimize or prevent hazards that could affect food manufactured, processed, packed, or held by such facility. Sets forth provisions governing exemptions from such requirements for certain facilities.

Requires the Secretary to: (1) issue guidance documents to reduce the risk from the most significant foodborne contaminants; and (2) establish minimum standards for the safe production and harvesting of fruits and vegetables based on known safety risks. Authorizes the Secretary to issue exemptions and variances from such standards.

Directs the Secretary to assess and collect fees related to: (1) food facility reinspection; (2) food recalls; (3) the voluntary qualified importer program; and (4) importer reinspection.

Directs the Secretary to develop voluntary food allergy and anaphylaxis management guidelines for schools and early childhood education programs.

Title II: Improving Capacity to Detect and Respond to Food Safety Problems - Requires the Secretary to: (1) allocate resources to inspect facilities and imported food according to the known safety risks of the facilities or food; and (2) establish a product tracing system to track and trace food that is in the United States or offered for import into the United States.

Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to enhance foodborne illness surveillance systems to improve the collection, analysis, reporting, and usefulness of data on foodborne illnesses.

Gives the Secretary the authority to order a recall of an article of food.

Title III: Improving the Safety of Imported Food - Requires U.S. importers to perform risk-based foreign supplier verification activities to verify that imported food is produced in compliance with applicable requirements related to hazard analysis and standards for produce safety and is not adulterated or misbranded.

Requires the Secretary to establish a program to expedite review and importation of food offered for importation by U.S. importers who have voluntarily agreed to participate in such program.

Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) require a certification that an article of food imported or offered for import complies with applicable requirements of this Act; and (2) enter into arrangements and agreements with foreign governments to facilitate the inspection of registered foreign facilities. Requires food to be refused admission into the United States if permission to inspect the food facility is denied by the facility owner, operator, or agent or the foreign country.

Sets forth provisions governing the establishment of a system to recognize bodies that accredit third-party auditors and audit agents to certify that foreign entities meet applicable FFDCA requirements for importation of food into the United States.

Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Authorizes appropriations for FY2011-FY2015 for the activities of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, the Center for Veterinary Medicine, and related field activities in the Office of Regulatory Affairs of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Directs the Secretary to increase the field staff of such Centers and Office.

Establishes whistleblower's protections for employees of entities involved in the manufacturing, processing, packing, transporting, distribution, reception, holding, or importation of food who provide information relating to any FFDCA violation.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 111th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 215 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

215 yea144 nay74 present or did not vote

Dimension 2
Economic left–right
More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(205)

  • Rep. Lynn WoolseyD-CA-6
  • Rep. Jim McDermottD-WA-7
  • Rep. Maurice HincheyD-NY-22
  • Rep. Gwen MooreD-WI-4
  • Rep. Donna EdwardsD-MD-4
  • Rep. Maxine WatersD-CA-35
  • Rep. Marcia FudgeD-OH-11
  • Rep. Raúl GrijalvaD-AZ-7
  • Rep. Yvette ClarkeD-NY-11
  • Rep. John OlverD-MA-1
  • Rep. Tammy BaldwinD-WI-2
  • Rep. Bob FilnerD-CA-51
  • Rep. Diane WatsonD-CA-33
  • Rep. John ConyersD-MI-14
  • Rep. Jim ClyburnD-SC-6
  • Rep. Keith EllisonD-MN-5
  • Rep. Eddie JohnsonD-TX-30
  • Rep. Donald PayneD-NJ-10
  • Rep. John LewisD-GA-5
  • Rep. Jim McGovernD-MA-3
  • Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4
  • Rep. José SerranoD-NY-16
  • Rep. Linda SánchezD-CA-39
  • Rep. Nydia VelázquezD-NY-12
  • Rep. Jan SchakowskyD-IL-9
  • Rep. Ed TownsD-NY-10
  • Rep. Mel WattD-NC-12
  • Rep. Xavier BecerraD-CA-31
  • Rep. Jerrold NadlerD-NY-8
  • Rep. Lucille Roybal-AllardD-CA-34
  • Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeD-TX-18
  • Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-30
  • Rep. Louise SlaughterD-NY-28
  • Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
  • Rep. Rush HoltD-NJ-12
  • Rep. Alcee HastingsD-FL-23
  • Rep. Jesse JacksonD-IL-2
  • Rep. Grace NapolitanoD-CA-38
  • Rep. Bennie ThompsonD-MS-2
  • Rep. David PriceD-NC-4
  • Rep. Michael CapuanoD-MA-8
  • Rep. Niki TsongasD-MA-5
  • Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
  • Rep. Chellie PingreeD-ME-1
  • Rep. Doris MatsuiD-CA-5
  • Rep. Robert BradyD-PA-1
  • Rep. Chaka FattahD-PA-2
  • Rep. John GaramendiD-CA-10
  • Rep. André CarsonD-IN-7
  • Rep. Peter WelchD-VT
  • Rep. Lois CappsD-CA-23
  • Rep. John LarsonD-CT-1
  • Rep. Joe CrowleyD-NY-7
  • Rep. John TierneyD-MA-6
  • Rep. Emanuel CleaverD-MO-5
  • Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-15
  • Rep. Wm. ClayD-MO-1
  • Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
  • Rep. Brad ShermanD-CA-27
  • Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
  • Rep. John DingellD-MI-15
  • Rep. Rosa DeLauroD-CT-3
  • Rep. Betty McCollumD-MN-4
  • Rep. Howard BermanD-CA-28
  • Rep. Eliot EngelD-NY-17
  • Rep. G.K. ButterfieldD-NC-1
  • Rep. Frank PalloneD-NJ-6
  • Rep. Elijah CummingsD-MD-7
  • Rep. Kathy CastorD-FL-11
  • Rep. Steve CohenD-TN-9
  • Rep. Corrine BrownD-FL-3
  • Rep. Jim MoranD-VA-8
  • Rep. Diana DeGetteD-CO-1
  • Rep. Hank JohnsonD-GA-4
  • Rep. Al GreenD-TX-9
  • Rep. Bobby ScottD-VA-3
  • Rep. Phil HareD-IL-17
  • Rep. Rob AndrewsD-NJ-1
  • Rep. Anna EshooD-CA-14
  • Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
  • Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-3
  • Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-12
  • Rep. Betty SuttonD-OH-13
  • Rep. Steven RothmanD-NJ-9
  • Rep. Jackie SpeierD-CA-12
  • Rep. Gregory MeeksD-NY-6
  • Rep. John SarbanesD-MD-3
  • Rep. Chris Van HollenD-MD-8
  • Rep. Tim RyanD-OH-17
  • Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-5
  • Rep. Gary AckermanD-NY-5
  • Rep. Paul TonkoD-NY-21
  • Rep. Anthony WeinerD-NY-9
  • Rep. Bruce BraleyD-IA-1
  • Rep. Ben LujánD-NM-3
  • Rep. David ScottD-GA-13
  • Rep. Nita LoweyD-NY-18
  • Rep. Brad MillerD-NC-13
  • Rep. Charlie GonzalezD-TX-20
  • Rep. Susan DavisD-CA-53
  • Rep. Adam SchiffD-CA-29
  • Rep. Gene GreenD-TX-29
  • Rep. Rick LarsenD-WA-2
  • Rep. Bill PascrellD-NJ-8
  • Rep. Alan MollohanD-WV-1
  • Rep. Jim LangevinD-RI-2
  • Rep. Jared PolisD-CO-2
  • Rep. Carolyn MaloneyD-NY-14
  • Rep. Steve IsraelD-NY-2
  • Rep. Laura RichardsonD-CA-37
  • Rep. Brian HigginsD-NY-27
  • Rep. John YarmuthD-KY-3
  • Rep. Jay InsleeD-WA-1
  • Rep. Ed PerlmutterD-CO-7
  • Rep. Jane HarmanD-CA-36
  • Rep. Stephen LynchD-MA-9
  • Rep. Joe CourtneyD-CT-2
  • Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
  • Rep. Bart StupakD-MI-1
  • Rep. Mike ThompsonD-CA-1
  • Rep. Alan GraysonD-FL-8
  • Rep. John SprattD-SC-5
  • Rep. Charles WilsonD-OH-6
  • Rep. Russ CarnahanD-MO-3
  • Rep. Sanford BishopD-GA-2
  • Rep. Shelley BerkleyD-NV-1
  • Rep. A. Dutch RuppersbergerD-MD-2
  • Rep. Allyson SchwartzD-PA-13
  • Rep. Kendrick MeekD-FL-17
  • Rep. Paul KanjorskiD-PA-11
  • Rep. Carol Shea-PorterD-NH-1
  • Rep. Christopher MurphyD-CT-5
  • Rep. John HallD-NY-19
  • Rep. Lloyd DoggettD-TX-25
  • Rep. David WuD-OR-1
  • Rep. Peter ViscloskyD-IN-1
  • Rep. Ciro RodriguezD-TX-23
  • Rep. David LoebsackD-IA-2
  • Rep. Mike QuigleyD-IL-5
  • Rep. Peter DeFazioD-OR-4
  • Rep. Dennis KucinichD-OH-10
  • Rep. Leonard BoswellD-IA-3
  • Rep. Vic SnyderD-AR-2
  • Rep. Gerald ConnollyD-VA-11
  • Rep. Earl PomeroyD-ND
  • Rep. Bob EtheridgeD-NC-2
  • Rep. Joe SestakD-PA-7
  • Rep. Mark CritzD-PA-12
  • Rep. Timothy BishopD-NY-1
  • Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9
  • Rep. Timothy WalzD-MN-1
  • Rep. Ron KleinD-FL-22
  • Rep. Dennis MooreD-KS-3
  • Rep. Kurt SchraderD-OR-5
  • Rep. Martin HeinrichD-NM-1
  • Rep. Lincoln DavisD-TN-4
  • Rep. Tim HoldenD-PA-17
  • Rep. Patrick MurphyD-PA-8
  • Rep. Daniel LipinskiD-IL-3
  • Rep. Larry KissellD-NC-8
  • Rep. Rick BoucherD-VA-9
  • Rep. Ben ChandlerD-KY-6
  • Rep. Daniel MaffeiD-NY-25
  • Rep. Dina TitusD-NV-3
  • Rep. Chet EdwardsD-TX-17
  • Rep. Henry CuellarD-TX-28
  • Rep. Mark SchauerD-MI-7
  • Rep. Michael MichaudD-ME-2
  • Rep. Ron KindD-WI-3
  • Rep. Artur DavisD-AL-7
  • Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4
  • Rep. Mike RossD-AR-4
  • Rep. Allen BoydD-FL-2
  • Rep. Jim HimesD-CT-4
  • Rep. Jerry McNerneyD-CA-11
  • Rep. Betsy MarkeyD-CO-4
  • Rep. William OwensD-NY-23
  • Rep. John BarrowD-GA-12
  • Rep. Steve DriehausD-OH-1
  • Rep. Deborah HalvorsonD-IL-11
  • Rep. John BoccieriD-OH-16
  • Rep. Gary PetersD-MI-9
  • Rep. Kathleen DahlkemperD-PA-3
  • Rep. Melissa BeanD-IL-8
  • Rep. Bill FosterD-IL-14
  • Rep. Jim CooperD-TN-5
  • Rep. Jim MathesonD-UT-2
  • Rep. Michael ArcuriD-NY-24
  • Rep. Suzanne KosmasD-FL-24
  • Rep. Zack SpaceD-OH-18
  • Rep. Christopher CarneyD-PA-10
  • Rep. Harry TeagueD-NM-2
  • Rep. Jason AltmireD-PA-4
  • Rep. Mike McIntyreD-NC-7
  • Rep. Scott MurphyD-NY-20
  • Rep. Brad EllsworthD-IN-8
  • Rep. Joe DonnellyD-IN-2
  • Rep. Gabrielle GiffordsD-AZ-8
  • Rep. Ann KirkpatrickD-AZ-1
  • Rep. Baron HillD-IN-9
  • Rep. Frank KratovilD-MD-1
  • Rep. Heath ShulerD-NC-11
  • Rep. Glenn NyeD-VA-2
  • Rep. Gene TaylorD-MS-4
  • Rep. Walter MinnickD-ID-1

Republicans who voted yea(10)

  • Rep. Charles DjouR-HI-1
  • Rep. Charles DentR-PA-15
  • Rep. Michael CastleR-DE
  • Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10
  • Rep. Judy BiggertR-IL-13
  • Rep. Vernon EhlersR-MI-3
  • Rep. Jeff FortenberryR-NE-1
  • Rep. Christopher LeeR-NY-26
  • Rep. Lee TerryR-NE-2
  • Rep. Peter RoskamR-IL-6
Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1644 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

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Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Related bills

10 bills the Library of Congress relates to this one.

  • H.R. 520Related bill

    Accelerated Retirement of Inefficient Vehicles Act of 2009

  • H.R. 1550Related billText similarities

    Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act of 2009

  • H.R. 1606Related bill

    New Automobile Voucher Act of 2009

  • H.R. 2640Related bill

    Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act

  • H.Res. 1781Procedurally-relatedRelated bill

    Providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 5116) to invest in innovation through research and development, to improve the competitiveness of the United States, and for other purposes; providin…

  • S. 247Related bill

    Accelerated Retirement of Inefficient Vehicles Act of 2009

  • S. 510Related bill

    FDA Food Safety Modernization Act

  • S. 1135Related bill

    Drive America Forward Act of 2009

  • S. 1200Related bill

    Short Term Accelerated Retirement of Inefficient Vehicles Act of 2009

  • S. 1248Related bill

    Green Transportation Efficiency Act of 2009

Data notes

Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 29 actions.

  1. Jan 4, 2011Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 111-353.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Dec 29, 2010FloorFloor · Presented to President.
  4. Dec 21, 2010Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 215 - 144 (Roll no. 661).House roll call 661
  6. Resolving differencesResolving differences · The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
  7. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Dingell moved that the House agree to the Senate amendments.
  8. FloorFloor · Considered as unfinished business.
  9. FloorFloor · POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the motion to agree to the Senate amendments to H.R. 2751, the Chair announced that pursuant to the order of the House of December 21, 2010, further proceedings on the motion would be postponed until a time to be announced.
  10. FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on motion to agree to the Senate amendments to H.R. 2751.
  11. FloorFloor · Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1781, the Chair recognized Mr. Dingell for a motion.
  12. FloorFloor · Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1781 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5116, H.R. 2751 and H.R. 5142. Providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to H.R. 5116, consideration of the Senate amendments to H.R. 2751, and consideration of the Senat…
  13. OtherOther · Cleared for White House.
  14. OtherOther · Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 215 - 144 (Roll no. 661).House roll call 661
  15. Dec 20, 2010FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  16. Dec 19, 2010FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Voice Vote.
  17. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  18. Jun 11, 2009CalendarCalendar · Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 74.
  19. Jun 10, 2009CalendarCalendar · Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
  20. Jun 9, 2009FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  21. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 298 - 119, 2 Present (Roll no. 314).House roll call 314
  22. FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2751.
  23. FloorFloor · Considered under suspension of the rules.
  24. FloorFloor · Ms. Sutton moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
  25. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
  26. Jun 8, 2009CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Ways and Means
  27. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  28. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce
  29. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in House
Data notes

Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.

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Amendments

2 amendments offered to the bill, with the last recorded step of each.

  • S.Amdt. 4891SenateSen. Harry ReidD-NV· offered Dec 19, 2010Agreed to

    To amend the title.

    Dec 19, 2010: Amendment SA 4891 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

    Agreed to
  • S.Amdt. 4890SenateSen. Harry ReidD-NV· offered Dec 19, 2010Agreed to

    In the nature of a substitute.

    Dec 19, 2010: Amendment SA 4890 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

    Agreed to
Data notes

Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.

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Official record

The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.