New York Can’t Afford This Costly, Confusing GRAS bill
The proposed GRAS bills (S.1239E/A.1556E) would create a new state bureaucracy that duplicates one at the federal level to examine the safety of food ingredients and require enormous resources the state simply does not have. In fact, it would cost the state an estimated $21 million in the first three years alone. It would also confuse consumers and increase costs for food producers, which typically lead to price hikes at the grocery store.
If proponents of the bill want to make these costly changes, they owe New Yorkers a thorough explanation of where the money will come from. It looks like it will come from consumers’ pocketbooks, local artisan food makers and small store owners across the state.
Proposed GRAS legislation would increase costs for New Yorkers and hurt local businesses without improving food safety.
The cost of food and housing in New York is out of control. This proposal will add new costs to everyday products.
- They typically move through the supply chain and show up in higher shelf prices and operating costs for small businesses.
- State leaders should be working on bringing down costs, not doing things that will drive up prices without making our lives better.
New York will be bombarded with millions of pages of reports requiring specialized positions of expertise and resources that our state government doesn’t have. Rushing ahead on GRAS legislation could lead to poor decisions and unintended consequences.
- Before the state takes on new oversight duties and effectively tries to establish a mini-FDA, it should take a careful look at how its current programs are working and whether they have enough staff and funding to do the job well.
- A New York-only GRAS reporting system creates new compliance costs, legal risk and paperwork for brands, distributors and retailers. Those costs in all probability will be passed on to consumers.
- A single GRAS submission to the FDA for one ingredient—steviol glycosides, also known as stevia, which is commonly used to sweeten coffee and tea, in baking, in sauces and other products, and as a tabletop sweetener, among other uses—is 5,714 pages.
A New York-only GRAS system is government overreach that will confuse consumers and create unnecessary burdens for businesses.
- It will leave New Yorkers with fewer options on their shelves while other states abide by federal standards, resulting in residents traveling across state lines, likely leading to a loss of sales and revenue for the state.
- The government should make sure we have straightforward information to make the best decisions for our families. It should not make those decisions for us through state mandates that shrink what is available in New York without any scientific basis.