Bill > HR7291

This bill, titled the GRAS Oversight and Transparency Act, directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to establish a board to review existing "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) designations for substances used in food. GRAS is a regulatory status in the United States that allows a food additive to be used without the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) undergoing the formal premarket approval process, provided that the substance is generally recognized by qualified experts as safe for its intended use. This new board will be composed of voting members from various government agencies, including the FDA and the Department of Agriculture, and non-voting members representing academia and the food manufacturing industry. The board's duties include identifying all "covered GRAS designations" (those made before the year 2000 where a manufacturer did not file a formal petition or notify the Secretary), categorizing them by review priority, and assessing their validity. If the board determines a substance is not safe, it will recommend to the Secretary that the GRAS designation be revoked. Food manufacturers will be required to provide information about their GRAS designations, and failure to comply could result in penalties or the substance being treated as an unapproved food additive. The Secretary can revoke a GRAS designation if a manufacturer fails to provide sufficient scientific evidence of safety within 180 days of notification. The board will submit public reports on its reviews and recommendations, with timelines for reviewing designations based on their priority. The board and the act will terminate 10 years after enactment.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7291/all-info