MA: Establishment of the Mideast Food Safety and Inspection Service (Final Vote)

[ZuWo]

This bill is based on an example from Florida, but similar agencies exist in other US states as well.

http://www.freshfromflorida.com/fs/index.html

While all members of this body probably prefer small-government to big-government solutions, I believe that the establishment of a "Food Safety and Inspection Service" agency can be considered reasonable and justifiable. Indeed, the aim of the agency is to guarantee safe food supply for Mideast citizens, which I think is of prime importance in a civilized society.

[ZuWo]

Your input is appreciated, fellow Assemblymembers.

[ZuWo]

JCL: Do you have an idea how to formulate the ideas you have?
And regarding your question about the revenue - that's a good question. We don't have an official budget at the moment, which renders all these financial questions extremely abstract. But to answer this question, I suppose the money for such an agency would come from the Department of Agriculture and which should ideally be saved elsewhere within the Department.

shua: You raise an important question. It was my initial idea that, since the agency is part of the Department of Agriculture, it would be the task of said Department to control the agency. But it might be advisable to include certain provisions in the bill which specify what the limitations of the agency are. Do you have any suggestion?

[ZuWo]

Would it help if we limited food inspections to, for example, maximally two times a year in the same food establishment?
We could also define the procedure of an appeal: If the owner of a food establishment is not content with the findings of the food inspectors, he/she may appeal to an independent court, and the owner of that particular food establishment only has to bear the costs of the appeal if the court agrees with the findings of the food inspectors.

[ZuWo]

Is there any further debate on this?

Yes, I'd like some input on my last post, which will possibly result in an amendment to improve the points shua mentioned.

[ZuWo]

I'd like to introduce the following amendment:

Establishment of the Mideast Food Safety and Inspection Service

1. a) The Mideast Food Safety and Inspection Service is hereby established.

1. b) The Mideast Food Safety and Inspection Service is a division of the Mideast Department of Agriculture.

2. a) The Mideast Food Safety and Inspection Service is responsible for assuring the public of a safe and wholesome food supply.

2. b) In order to enforce the purpose of subsection 2. a), the division has the following competences:
 
- the inspection of food establishments
- the inspection of food products
- the performance of specialized laboratory analyses of food products sold or produced in the Mideast.

2. c) Food inspectors shall not inspect the same food establishment more than twice a year. If food inspectors impose sanctions on a food establishment, the owner of the food establishment in question has the right to appeal to the regional industrial court at first instance. The owner of the food establishment in question shall only bear the costs of the case if the decision of the food inspectors is upheld.

[ZuWo]

It's your bill.  If you just want it substituted, just let me know.

Yes, go ahead. Incorporate the additional text into the bill. Thanks!

[ZuWo]

Half sobbing, half smiling I cast my last vote as a member of this body:

Aye