| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the regulation of food safety in fresh fruits and |
|
|
vegetables. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that: |
|
|
(1) the agricultural industry is a vital part of the |
|
|
state's economy, contributing $73 billion annually, or 9.5 percent |
|
|
of the gross state product, and is the state's second largest |
|
|
industry, with one in every seven Texans being employed in some |
|
|
segment of the agricultural industry; |
|
|
(2) food safety must be a top state priority because an |
|
|
accidental or deliberate contamination of food or crops could be |
|
|
detrimental to the state's economy and would undermine consumer |
|
|
confidence in the integrity of food safety in this state; |
|
|
(3) the growing and processing of fresh fruits and |
|
|
vegetables is crucial to this state, and since September 11, 2001, |
|
|
awareness of the threat of contamination of those products has |
|
|
increased; and |
|
|
(4) the state should increase awareness of food safety |
|
|
among the state's growers and processors of fresh fruits and |
|
|
vegetables to avoid disastrous events. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 91, Agriculture Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 91.009 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 91.009. COORDINATION. (a) The department is the lead |
|
|
agency in the regulation of food safety in fresh fruits and |
|
|
vegetables, including any federally mandated inspections of farms |
|
|
and fresh-cut processing facilities, and is responsible for |
|
|
coordinating the activities of state and federal agencies with |
|
|
regard to such regulation. |
|
|
(b) The department shall coordinate, plan, and approve |
|
|
training and awareness programs among producers of fresh fruits and |
|
|
vegetables in this state. The programs must inform and educate |
|
|
producers about proper food handling procedures, the prevention of |
|
|
accidental or deliberately planned outbreaks of disease, and the |
|
|
enhancement of overall food safety. The department shall |
|
|
coordinate with colleges, universities, the Texas Agricultural |
|
|
Experiment Station, the Texas Cooperative Extension Service, and |
|
|
private industry to jointly plan and approve programs required |
|
|
under this subsection. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |