Federal and State Food Safety Information Sharing Act of 2026

Bill Number: H.R. 8430
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 2
Policy Area: Health
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2026-04-22: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Last Updated: 2026-06-24T08:08:16Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This bill, titled the Federal and State Food Safety Information Sharing Act of 2026, aims to improve food safety by allowing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to share detailed food safety data with state, local, Tribal, and territorial health authorities, and to extend federal grants for food safety programs.

Key Provisions

Information Sharing (Section 2):
Authorizes the FDA to share unredacted (uncensored) information with state, local, Tribal, or territorial public health authorities, overriding restrictions on disclosing trade secrets or confidential data.
Types of shareable information include:
Data on foodborne illness outbreaks.
Lab test results from food samples.
Inspection reports.
Lists of products involved in recalls or outbreaks.
Consumer complaints.
Other data deemed helpful for public health protection.
Sharing must occur "as soon as reasonably practicable."
Recipients cannot further share the information without FDA approval, except if needed to stop an outbreak, manage a recall, or enforce state laws.
Grants for Food Safety (Section 3):
Extends FDA grants under Section 1009 of the FD&C Act from 3 years to 5 years.
Requires a successful FDA evaluation after the first year for continued funding in later years.
Applies only to new grants awarded after the bill's enactment.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Amends Section 708 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) by adding a new subsection (d) to explicitly permit FDA sharing of sensitive food safety data.
Modifies Section 301(j) of the FD&C Act, which previously banned disclosing trade secrets, by creating an exception for this new sharing authority.
Updates Section 1009 grant terms to lengthen duration and tie funding to performance evaluations.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: Enhances coordination between FDA and subnational authorities, potentially speeding up responses to food contamination and recalls.
Citizens: Could lead to faster detection and containment of foodborne illnesses, reducing public health risks.
No direct international impacts mentioned.

Main Stakeholders Affected

FDA and HHS: Gains flexibility to share data but retains control over further disclosures.
State, local, Tribal, and territorial health authorities: Receive critical data to bolster their food safety efforts.
Food industry: Faces potential indirect exposure of business-sensitive info (e.g., recalls, inspections), though protections limit redistribution.
Consumers: Benefit from improved outbreak response.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Balances public health needs against trade secret protections (unredacted sharing is a key shift from prior redactions); maintains FDA oversight via disclosure limits.
Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; supports federalism by empowering subnational governments without mandating action.
Political: Promotes intergovernmental cooperation on food safety, potentially reducing outbreak severity amid rising concerns over contaminated food supplies.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]

Cosponsors (6)

Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]

Recent Actions

2026-04-22: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
2026-04-22: Introduced in House
2026-04-22: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Federal and State Food Safety Information Sharing Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-22 — PDF (4 pages)