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Josephs introduces resolution showing concern on safety of Chinese imports

HARRISBURG, June 22 -- State Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila., is introducing a concurrent resolution regarding the safety of food, medicine and other products imported into the United States from China.

"Every day, China imports a wide variety of products into our country, and in light of recent events, we now know that a lot of these products could be potentially dangerous to us," Josephs said. "Adoption of this resolution would demonstrate Pennsylvania's concern about the health and safety of our citizens."

Josephs said the resolution would advise citizens of the Commonwealth to use extreme caution in regard to these items and formally express Pennsylvania's concern to the federal government about safety issues on products coming out of China.

With the media reports over the last few months about tainted dog and cat food which caused some pet deaths, and the recall of Chinese-made toothpaste, the public has become more aware of the issue. However, Josephs said, it is not a new issue. Some items found to be contaminated before being let into the United States include dried apples preserved with a cancer-causing chemical, mushrooms covered in illegal pesticides and frozen catfish loaded with banned antibiotics, as well as scallops and sardines in putrefying bacteria.

"Action on this resolution will send a strong message to the federal level about how much the Pennsylvania General Assembly is concerned about this issue and strongly urges the federal government to review import-export control systems for food, medicine and other products from China," Josephs said.

Because the legislation is in the form of a concurrent resolution, it must be approved by both the House and the Senate to be adopted. Then the resolution would be sent to the president, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services and Homeland Security, and to each member of Congress from Pennsylvania.