House Passes Bill to Compel OSHA to Issue Standards for Popcorn Additive

[Omaha Steve]

http://public.cq.com/docs/cqt/news110-000002593736.html

CQ TODAY – EMPLOYMENT & LABOR
Sept. 26, 2007 – 2:58 p.m.

By Michael Sandler, CQ Staff

The House passed legislation Wednesday that would institute new safety regulations for employees who work with a chemical used in artificial butter flavoring.

The measure (HR 2693), passed by a vote of 260-154, would require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to come up with an interim standard, within 90 days of the legislation’s enactment, for regulating diacetyl. It would require OSHA to come up with a permanent standard within two years. The House Education and Labor Committee approved the bill by voice vote June 20.

Diacetyl is used in food flavoring, including the artificial butter used in microwave popcorn.

Organized labor groups and the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association, which represents the makers of artificial butter, support the bill. It is sponsored by Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif.

The White House said this week it “strongly opposes” the measure but did not threaten a veto.

A consortium of 14 business interest groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business and the National Association of Manufacturers, opposes the measure. The groups contend there is no data available that could be used to set a permissible exposure limit and that a proper analysis would be difficult to achieve in the time frame set under the bill.

FULL story at link.

[spirit of wine]

1. Maybe they should call it the Orville Reddenbocker Act