The Making America's Food Safer Act seeks to strengthen food safety regulations by expanding the application and utility of accredited third-party certifications. It broadens the definition of an eligible entity to include any foreign or domestic food supply chain participant that chooses to undergo auditing. The Secretary is now mandated to use these certifications to determine if food meets safety requirements and if facilities qualify for the voluntary qualified importer program, while also allowing their consideration for risk analysis and inspection prioritization. A significant provision of the bill authorizes the Secretary to share unredacted food safety information with State, local, Tribal, and territorial authorities . This includes critical data such as foodborne illness surveillance, laboratory testing results, inspectional findings, recall distribution lists, and consumer complaints. Such information can be shared as soon as reasonably practicable, though recipient authorities are generally restricted from further disclosure unless necessary for public health emergencies or enforcement. Furthermore, the legislation grants the Secretary of Health and Human Services new authority to order the destruction of certain refused imported articles . If an article violates the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and presents a significant public health concern, it can be ordered destroyed without the option for export. This process requires regulations to ensure due process, including notice and an opportunity for the owner or consignee to challenge the decision, with the owner bearing the costs of destruction.
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Timeline
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Cassidy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 530.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Cassidy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 530.
Health
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresDepartment of Health and Human ServicesFood supply, safety, and labelingIntergovernmental relationsLicensing and registrations
Making America's Food Safer Act
USA119th CongressS-4974| Senate
| Updated: 7/28/2026
The Making America's Food Safer Act seeks to strengthen food safety regulations by expanding the application and utility of accredited third-party certifications. It broadens the definition of an eligible entity to include any foreign or domestic food supply chain participant that chooses to undergo auditing. The Secretary is now mandated to use these certifications to determine if food meets safety requirements and if facilities qualify for the voluntary qualified importer program, while also allowing their consideration for risk analysis and inspection prioritization. A significant provision of the bill authorizes the Secretary to share unredacted food safety information with State, local, Tribal, and territorial authorities . This includes critical data such as foodborne illness surveillance, laboratory testing results, inspectional findings, recall distribution lists, and consumer complaints. Such information can be shared as soon as reasonably practicable, though recipient authorities are generally restricted from further disclosure unless necessary for public health emergencies or enforcement. Furthermore, the legislation grants the Secretary of Health and Human Services new authority to order the destruction of certain refused imported articles . If an article violates the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and presents a significant public health concern, it can be ordered destroyed without the option for export. This process requires regulations to ensure due process, including notice and an opportunity for the owner or consignee to challenge the decision, with the owner bearing the costs of destruction.
Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better
Timeline
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Cassidy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 530.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Cassidy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 530.
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresDepartment of Health and Human ServicesFood supply, safety, and labelingIntergovernmental relationsLicensing and registrations