What's happening
This bill creates an advisory board to oversee and improve food safety protection and inspection programs in New York's Department of Agriculture and Markets.
Why it matters
Brings diverse expertise to food safety oversight. The board's composition—drawing from research universities, consumer advocates, the food industry, farmers, and public health agencies—ensures that recommendations reflect a broad range of experience and interests, potentially leading to more balanced and effective food safety policies.
Creates a formal mechanism for ongoing review and improvement. By mandating regular evaluation of food safety laws, regulations, and department programs, the board can proactively identify gaps or weaknesses and recommend timely updates, helping to keep New York's food safety standards current and robust.
Enhances public accountability and transparency. With appointed members from various sectors and public agencies, and requirements to keep records of meetings and recommendations, the board introduces greater oversight and public input into how food safety enforcement is managed.
May lead to stronger enforcement and resource allocation. The board is tasked with examining the adequacy of food safety staffing and administration, which could result in recommendations for increased resources or staffing levels—potentially improving the effectiveness of food safety enforcement and better protecting public health.
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Who cares
Department of Agriculture and Markets
The board would review the department’s food safety inspections and enforcement and recommend changes to administration, staffing, laws and programs.
Food retailers, manufacturers, processors and farmers
These groups would have designated seats on the board advising on food safety policies and enforcement.
Consumers and consumer advocates
Two designated board seats would give consumer interests a role in recommending improvements to food safety protections.
State and local health departments and federal food safety agencies
These agencies would be invited to participate in all board meetings and could choose to serve as ex officio members.
Headline styles
Create Food Safety Advisory Board
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 14
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to agriculture
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7837
IN SENATE
February 25, 2020
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to creating an advisory board on food safety protection and inspection programs in the department of agriculture and markets
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new section 26-a to read as follows:
§ 26-a. Advisory board on department food safety protection and inspection programs. 1. There is hereby established in the department an advisory board on food safety protection and inspection which shall consist of thirteen members. Seven members shall be appointed by the governor, including at least two representatives, with expertise in food safety, from New York state research universities, one representative of the retail food industry, one representative of the food manufacturing or processing industry, and one farmer. The speaker of the assembly and the temporary president of the senate shall each have two appointments. Each shall appoint a member who is a consumer or representative of consumer interests and each will appoint a member representing the food industry. The minority leaders of the assembly and the senate shall each have one appointment. In addition, representatives of the following agencies shall be invited to attend and participate in all meetings of the advisory board and, at their option, shall be ex officio members:
(a) a county or municipal health department;
(b) the U.S. Food and Drug Administration;
(c) the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service; and
(d) the New York State Department of Health.
2. It shall be the duty of the advisory board hereby established to advise, counsel and confer with the commissioner on matters of policy in connection with the administration and enforcement of laws and regulations relating to food safety. The advisory board shall specifically examine the adequacy of food safety protection and inspection by the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08028-02-0
S. 7837 2
department and recommend necessary changes in administration and staffing levels of food safety enforcement activities to ensure the protection of the public's health. The advisory board shall review existing and proposed state food safety laws and regulations and recommend to the commissioner, and the assembly and senate chairmen of the agriculture and health committees, necessary changes or additions to laws, regulations and department programs to improve food safety and the effectiveness of the department's food safety inspection and enforcement activities.
3. The commissioner may detail from time to time to the assistance of the advisory board such employees of the department as the commissioner deems necessary and shall provide necessary information and space for meetings of the advisory board. The advisory board shall adopt rules and regulations to govern its proceedings and keep a record of its meetings and recommendations.
4. The advisory board shall meet at the call of the commissioner and at such other times as it may deem necessary and at such places as may be convenient. An initial meeting shall be held within thirty days after all appointments to such board are completed.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately, provided, however, that the appointments to the advisory board on the department of agriculture and markets food safety protection and inspection programs authorized by section 26-a of the agriculture and markets law, as added by section one of this act, shall be completed within 180 days after this act shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to creating an advisory board on food safety protection and inspection programs in the department of agriculture and markets
PURPOSE OF BILL::
To improve State regulation of food safety.
Summary of specific provisions
Creates a thirteen Member advisory board within the Department of Agri- culture and Markets on food safety and inspection programs. Seven members appointed by the Governor will include two academic food safety experts, one representative each of the retail and food processing industries and one farmer. The Speaker of the Assembly and President Pro Tempore of the Senate will each appoint one consumer and one food indus- try representative. The Assembly and Senate Minority Leaders would each have one appointment. Representatives of the FDA, USDA, NYS Department of Health and county or municipal health departments will be invited to participate in meetings. The advisory board will advise the Commissioner on administration and enforcement of food safety laws and regulations, especially the adequacy of inspection and enforcement activities. The board will also review existing and proposed laws and regulations and report to the Legislature on the need for changes.
Effects of present law which this bill would alter
Adds a new section 26-b to the Agriculture and Markets Law.
JUSTIFICATION:: Cutbacks in State funding and staffing in the Depart- ment of Agriculture & Markets have led to increased concerns about the ability of-the Department's safety inspectors to-adequately monitor the nearly 30,000 food establishments in the State. There are other public concerns about the safety and regulation of the food supply that need to be addressed by the Department.
An expert panel composed of representatives of research institutions, food industry representatives and consumer protection representatives would help determine the adequacy of the Department's food safety program and make recommendations for improvements.
In addition, this board can propose, to the Commissioner and the Legis- lature, changes in law or regulation necessary to increase protection of the food supply.
Summary of amendments
Increases the advisory board to 11 members; two more appointments for the Governor, and one appointment each for Assembly and Senate Minority Leaders.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::
Previously introduced. 2017/18 A.3535; 5.5387 of 2019-Vetoed.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS::
None. REGULATION IMPACT:
The advisory board may recommend changes in regulations.
Effective date
Immediately, provided that appointments are completed one hundred eighty days after this Act becomes law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.