聯邦監察辦公室The National Ombudsman Office將於7月31日主辦歷史上首次有關食品進口問題的聽證會。
此次聽證會有助於解決小企業2大問題:（1）目前在食品進口過程中面臨的各種問題.（2）由新實施的食品安全現代化法案FSMA帶來的新問題。
聯邦監察辦公室The National Ombudsman Office旨在為遭遇例如重複審計和調查，過當罰款和懲戒，威脅和報復等執法不公的小企業提供幫助。
聽證會將秉承聯邦監察辦公室的權責，盡力找出影響小企業的問題所在。並要求相關聯邦機構就提出的問題做書面回應。
鑑於所有聽證會內容及後續反應將被收入在聯邦檔案永久作為國會及供大眾參考。在公眾壓力下，相關聯邦機構必須要審慎回應。
聽證會的主要議題集中在食品進口問題上，涉及以下聯邦機構：美國食品藥物管理局，美國農業部，海關邊境保護局和美國漁業及野生動物管理署。
歡迎所有小企業參加，聽證會接受書面和口頭形式提交的證詞，甚至可以用中文，或者採用匿名方式提出證詞。但結果往往取決於證詞是否有提供詳細資料，譬如入口編號 Entry Number。
表格可由以下鏈接下載http://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/forms/Comment%20Form%20(Fillable).pdf
證詞應包括:
1）涉及的聯邦機構；
2）敘述問題詳情；
3）此類問題的影響及損害；
4)建議或解決問題的方法。
美國東方食品商會和小企業管理倡導辦公室SBA Office of Advocacy在确保食品安全現代化新法案FSMA公正實施方面已合作了好多年。
我們堅信本次聽證會將為食品進口商，海關行，經銷商，批發商，餐館，超市和雜貨店等不同行業提供一個難能可貴機會。
即讓相關聯邦機構聽到小企業的聲音，也鼓勵聯邦機構明確所有執法規範及建立今後良好的溝通管道，澄清和糾正過當的執法行為，為行業和社區提供一個良好的營商環境。
千萬不要浪費這次機會，請遞交你的證詞。切記：除非發出你的聲音，不然問題不會改變或會更糟…….
請在2014月7月24日前與東方食品商會公共關係負責人Taylor Chow聯絡,電話:(510)612-8368(taylor.chow@hotmail.com) 或SBA Office of Advocacy, Yvonne Lee聯絡, 電話: (415) 744-8493 (yvonne.lee@sba.gov)。
聽證會時間：
2014年7月31日 週四
8:30am- 9:00am 登記
9:00am -1:00pm 聽證
聽證會地點：
Cupertino Community Hall,
10350 Torre Ave.
Cupertino, CA 95014
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Has your small business faced difficulties with the FDA over unfair import regulations?
NOW is your chance to speak up for change! (Deadline to register is THIS FRIDAY, 7/18)
National Ombudsman Brian Castro will host a public hearing on July 31st in Cupertino’s Community Hall on regulatory enforcement fairness for food importations. The hearing will cover problems importers are encountering with food importations currently, and problems that may be the result of changes due to Food Safety Modernization Act. Small businesses such as restaurants, supermarkets, mom-and-pop shops, food/grocery manufacturers, wholesalers, and customs brokers are all affected by inefficiencies and poor communication across departments of the FDA, USDA, CBP, and US Fish & Wildlife.
Excessive and inconsistent regulation, extensive wait time, and unfair treatment are obstacles that many small business owners and operators face. This in turn affects the rest of the economy on a larger scale, as minority communities experience a decline in resources of their culture and lifestyle. If you have experienced, or know someone that has: excessive or unfair federal regulatory enforcement actions (such as repetitive audits or investigations), excessive fines, penalties, threats and retaliation, NOW is your chance to stand up and fight against it.
Deadline to apply is this Friday, July 18th!
This meeting will be the first of its kind in history, with the mission to start a national conversation on the difficulties and barriers faced when starting and running small business in the food import industry. Attendees need to RSVP and register by contacting Yvonne Lee, Regional Advocate for the Small Business Association at (415-744-8493) or emailing yvonne.lee@sba.gov. This hearing is an official government event, so all who wish to testify must provide a written statement in advance of their experience including:
- The federal agency involved
- A description of the problem
- The impact or damage from the problem
- Suggestion or solutions to the problems presented
Although the hearing requires testifying participants to register and provide this information, you may request for your name not to be released for confidentiality. The event itself open to the entire public so all are encouraged to attend.
All issues reported by participants will undergo a high-level fairness review at the appropriate federal agency, and the Office of the National Ombudsman works with its federal agency partners to address those concerns, reduce regulatory burdens, and help small businesses grow.
Where:
Cupertino Community Hall
10350 Torre Avenue
Cupertino, CA 95014
When:
Thursday, July 31, 2014
8:30am – 9:00am ~ Registration
9:00am – 1:00pm ~ Hearing
