I received this side by side comparison of the two proposed Food Safety Legislations that are currently being considered. I thought I would share with the cove.

Side-by-Side Comparison of Durbin and Waxman Food Safety Legislation "
Just last week, Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released draft food safety legislation, the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 to enhance the food safety regime implemented by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To help clients understand the contents of this bill as compared to legislation introduced in the Senate earlier this spring by Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), we have prepared the attached side-by-side comparison chart. Specifically, the chart summarizes key provisions in the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (S. 510); the draft Food Safety Enhancement Act; and, current law as contained in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

http://ptnpa.org/news_pdf/Durbin-Waxman-chart.pdf

Thanks for the post.

Both drafts are practical, both are much better than current law, and each has some points where it is better than the other. It was a minor waste of resources to have two parallel staff efforts to draft them separately since the rational approach is to merge them for passage.

After US peanut butter, peppers, tomatoes and spinach and Chinese melamine-milk, cardboard-pork, lead-candy, etc., etc., I don't think there's any doubt that the votes are there for passage in both chambers.

Forward-going, Durbin and Waxman should flip a coin as to whether the eventual law will be Waxman-Durbin or Durbin-Waxman and proceed with the merge process, rather than fighting it out in committees.