In the wake of the passage and continuing implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (“FSMA”), the most sweeping reform of our food safety laws in more than 70 years, a couple of U.S. Senators and President Obama each now seek to endorse different visions of an oft-repeated concept—the consolidation of regulatory agencies governing food safety in America.

Recently, Senator Richard Durbin and Representative Rosa DeLauro introduced the Safe Food Act of 2015 (the “Act”), a proposed bill seeking to merge all food-safety related programs across various agencies into a new, centralized agency (the “Food Safety Administration”). Under Section 211 of the Act, a Food Safety Technology Program, would be implemented to foster innovation in food technologies with the potential to improve food safety across the supply chain, including specifically the transport and storage of food. Additionally, the Act seeks to implement a national surveillance system and establish regular examination of all facilities handling food to ensure safety and compliance with all regulations.