H.R. 7291: GRAS Oversight and Transparency Act
The GRAS Oversight and Transparency Act aims to improve the review process for substances used in food that have been designated as "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) by their manufacturers. It sets forth the following main provisions:
Establishment of the GRAS Review Board
The bill mandates the creation of a GRAS Review Board by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This board is responsible for:
- Reviewing the validity of covered GRAS designations.
- Making recommendations regarding the revocation of these designations if deemed necessary.
Composition of the Board
The board will include:
- Voting members, including high-ranking officials from the Departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture, as well as representatives from various FDA and USDA offices.
- Non-voting members, such as an academic expert in food toxicology and a representative from the food manufacturing industry.
Members of the board will serve for five-year terms and will not receive compensation.
Review Process
The Board is tasked with:
- Identifying covered GRAS designations.
- Categorizing these designations into three tiers based on review priority.
- Conducting thorough reviews to determine the safety of the substances in question.
- Reporting the results of these reviews to the Secretary and Congress.
Notification and Revocation
If a review concludes that a substance is not safe, the Board must notify the Secretary and Congress and recommend the revocation of its GRAS designation. Following this notification:
- The Secretary may issue a revocation of the designation.
- The food manufacturer will be given 180 days to provide evidence proving the substance's safety before a final decision is made.
- Procedures will be established for manufacturers to comply with any revocations.
Manufacturer Participation
Food manufacturers are required to report their covered GRAS designations to the Board within 90 days of the Act's enactment. Failure to comply may result in penalties or the substance being treated as an unapproved food additive.
Reporting Requirements
The Board must submit reports concerning the reviews to both the Secretary and Congress, making the information publicly available. Reports are due at various times based on the review tier assigned to each GRAS designation.
Definitions
This section defines "covered GRAS designations" as those made by manufacturers prior to the year 2000 and not followed by a petition or notification to the Secretary regarding the designation.
Termination of the Board
The Board will be dissolved, and the Act will cease to be effective ten years after its enactment.
Relevant Companies
- FDX - FedEx Corporation: The food logistics industry may see operational impacts if food manufacturers alter their approved substances and require different shipping protocols.
- PEP - PepsiCo, Inc.: Changes in the status of certain ingredients in beverages could affect supply chains and formulations.
- KO - The Coca-Cola Company: Similar to PepsiCo, reformulations based on GRAS designation reviews may lead to changes in product offerings.
This is an AI-generated summary of the bill text. There may be mistakes.
Sponsors
1 sponsor
Actions
2 actions
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Jan. 30, 2026 | Introduced in House |
| Jan. 30, 2026 | Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. |
Corporate Lobbying
0 companies lobbying
None found.
* Note that there can be significant delays in lobbying disclosures, and our data may be incomplete.
