The GRAS Oversight and Transparency Act directs the FDA to establish a board that will review food additives designated as "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) before the year 2000 to determine if those designations remain valid. The board, composed of representatives from the FDA, Department of Agriculture, EPA, and academic and industry experts, will categorize these substances by priority level and complete reviews within 2 to 10 years depending on the tier, with authority to recommend revoking unsafe designations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Food manufacturers must notify the board within 90 days of enactment identifying all GRAS substances they use, and face civil penalties or have their substances reclassified as unapproved additives if they fail to comply. The bill includes a 180-day window for manufacturers to provide scientific evidence of safety before revocation takes effect and requires the board to publish all findings publicly. The board itself will dissolve after 10 years.
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