4 ms·

Can’t congress just make an emergency exemption and possibly start importing formula from Europe? Apparently customs seize shipments that people attempt to purc

by vondur 4y ago

Can’t congress just make an emergency exemption and possibly start importing formula from Europe? Apparently customs seize shipments that people attempt to purchase directly from Europe.

taf2 4y ago
A president is usually better at doing this via executive orders... Simply because it's one president who has to sign the order vs many congressman who have to agree to pass an act... So it's unclear why this has not happened...
- throwaway48375 4y ago
  Don't worry they've formed a committee to look into maybe doing something about this. Meanwhile babies are starving. I wish I were joking.
  - macspoofing 4y ago
    >Don't worry they've formed a committee to look into maybe doing something about this. Yes. You have to 'form a committee' to understand the problem, instead of just winging it.
    - throwaway48375 4y ago
      Is there a good reason why it takes that committee over a week just to meet? Why can't they just schedule a zoom conference and then issue an executive order the same day? It's not like starving babies are a time critical issue like missiles for Ukraine or something.
      - macspoofing 4y ago
        >Is there a good reason why it takes that committee over a week just to meet? It's a complicated issue, that will take time to sort out. There is no decision that will just magically fix everything. >It's not like starving babies are a time critical issue ... This is a baby formula shortage, in a rich first-world nation. No babies are going to be harmed. Is there really a need to go into hyperbole?
  - dereg 4y ago
    Sometime in the future, there will then be a commission tasked to determine why the committee failed.
Lendal 4y ago
What is it specifically about European countries that makes inspection of their foods unnecessary, but foods from other continents does need inspection first?
- Someone1234 4y ago
  Is this a real question? They have higher food standards, regulation, and inspection regime than the US does itself. Other countries are a mishmash, but I'd imagine at least Canada/Australia/UK/etc would meet or exceed the bar too.
  - mardifoufs 4y ago
    Is that really true? Unless I'm missing something, American food standards and regulations are usually just as good as europe/canada/UK's , if not better. If anything I'm a bit puzzled by your claim, considering just how many food related scandals europe has had in the past few decades. Fake olive oil, horse meat, poison tainted wine, mad cow disease... and that's not even getting into the mishmash of "cultural/local exceptions" to food regulations (which are a good thing, but still undermine your point!). But maybe I'm wrong, it's just that I've never heard any expert or anyone else really claim that the USDA/FDA are too lenient, more so than their europeans/CANZUK counterparts. It's usually the opposite actually!
    - dougmwne 4y ago
      Europe generally has much more regulation than the US, not just in food, but in all areas of life. In addition to individual counties having on average more complex regulation, the EU's main purpose is to set regulation standards between member states. Also, from a cultural angle, food tradition is more deeply ingrained and there is much more skepticism of GMO and food products. American food has a reputation of being fake/candy. Interestingly, the UK seems to be far more on the US's page when it comes to food and it was a component of Brexit that they wanted to right to race to the bottom on their food products.
  - jhgb 4y ago

by vondur 4y ago

Can’t congress just make an emergency exemption and possibly start importing formula from Europe? Apparently customs seize shipments that people attempt to purchase directly from Europe.

taf2 4y ago

A president is usually better at doing this via executive orders... Simply because it's one president who has to sign the order vs many congressman who have to agree to pass an act... So it's unclear why this has not happened...

throwaway48375 4y ago
Don't worry they've formed a committee to look into maybe doing something about this. Meanwhile babies are starving. I wish I were joking.
- macspoofing 4y ago
  >Don't worry they've formed a committee to look into maybe doing something about this. Yes. You have to 'form a committee' to understand the problem, instead of just winging it.
  - throwaway48375 4y ago
    Is there a good reason why it takes that committee over a week just to meet? Why can't they just schedule a zoom conference and then issue an executive order the same day? It's not like starving babies are a time critical issue like missiles for Ukraine or something.
    - macspoofing 4y ago
      >Is there a good reason why it takes that committee over a week just to meet? It's a complicated issue, that will take time to sort out. There is no decision that will just magically fix everything. >It's not like starving babies are a time critical issue ... This is a baby formula shortage, in a rich first-world nation. No babies are going to be harmed. Is there really a need to go into hyperbole?
- dereg 4y ago
  Sometime in the future, there will then be a commission tasked to determine why the committee failed.

Lendal 4y ago

What is it specifically about European countries that makes inspection of their foods unnecessary, but foods from other continents does need inspection first?

Someone1234 4y ago
Is this a real question? They have higher food standards, regulation, and inspection regime than the US does itself. Other countries are a mishmash, but I'd imagine at least Canada/Australia/UK/etc would meet or exceed the bar too.
- mardifoufs 4y ago
  Is that really true? Unless I'm missing something, American food standards and regulations are usually just as good as europe/canada/UK's , if not better. If anything I'm a bit puzzled by your claim, considering just how many food related scandals europe has had in the past few decades. Fake olive oil, horse meat, poison tainted wine, mad cow disease... and that's not even getting into the mishmash of "cultural/local exceptions" to food regulations (which are a good thing, but still undermine your point!). But maybe I'm wrong, it's just that I've never heard any expert or anyone else really claim that the USDA/FDA are too lenient, more so than their europeans/CANZUK counterparts. It's usually the opposite actually!
  - dougmwne 4y ago
    Europe generally has much more regulation than the US, not just in food, but in all areas of life. In addition to individual counties having on average more complex regulation, the EU's main purpose is to set regulation standards between member states. Also, from a cultural angle, food tradition is more deeply ingrained and there is much more skepticism of GMO and food products. American food has a reputation of being fake/candy. Interestingly, the UK seems to be far more on the US's page when it comes to food and it was a component of Brexit that they wanted to right to race to the bottom on their food products.
- jhgb 4y ago