Bill · H.R. 4958· House(119-HR-4958)
GRAS Act
- Introduced
- 8/12/2025
- Last activity
- 8/12/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Sponsored by
- Frank Pallone
- Cosponsors
- - 5 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The GRAS Act aims to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act regarding substances considered generally recognized as safe. It requires people using such substances to notify the FDA and meet specific procedural requirements for new uses. The bill also mandates that the Secretary systematically reassess the safety of certain substances every three years. To support these efforts, it provides for the authorization of resources and the collection of fees. Additionally, it establishes new definitions for terms like carcinogenic and reproductive toxicity.
Yes· 3 of 5
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+6
The bill requires the FDA to make safety notices, supporting data, and statements publicly available on its website.
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?+5
The bill authorizes the collection of fees from manufacturers to cover the costs of safety reviews and reassessments.
Would women be better off under this?+3
The bill explicitly requires monitoring for reproductive and developmental toxicity.
The opposite
Does this make it easier to run a small business?-4
The bill imposes new notification requirements and potential fees on those treating substances as generally recognized as safe.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Increased Safety Oversight: The bill requires the Secretary to systematically reassess the safety of at least 10 substances or classes of substances every three years (Section 4).
-
Enhanced Transparency: The Secretary must make notices and supporting data publicly available on the FDA website and provide a 60-day period for public comment (Section 3).
-
Rigorous Safety Standards: Notices for new uses must include detailed information regarding cumulative effects, hazard, dose response, exposure, and the prevention of cancer or reproductive and developmental toxicity (Section 3).
-
Prevention of Conflicts of Interest: The Secretary is authorized to object to a notice if an expert providing the data appears to have a conflict of interest (Section 3).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
New Burdens on Manufacturers: Any person intending to treat a food substance as generally recognized as safe for a new use must submit a notice to the Secretary including specific, detailed information (Section 3).
-
Potential Financial Costs: The bill allows for the collection of fees from people filing notices or those subject to a reassessment to cover the costs of these activities (Section 6).
-
Risk of Penalties: The Secretary is authorized to assess civil monetary penalties in cases of violations regarding reassessments (Section 4).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+6
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Women+3Good For Low Income Households+2
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+3
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Fiscal Responsibility+5Improves Small Business Support-4
- 7/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/24/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 2/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/1/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/12/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Introduced in House
Ro KhannaDemocrat · California
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Kim SchrierDemocrat · Washington
Paul TonkoDemocrat · New York
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan