IFA Praises FDA Decision to Delay Enforcement of Menu Labeling Regulations

For immediate release
Contact:
Alisa Harrison, 202-628-8000
Matthew Haller, 202-662-0770

aharrison@franchise.org

mhaller@franchise.org

twitter.com/franchising411

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21, 2011—The International Franchise Association praised
today’s decisionby the Food and Drug Administration to withdraw its draft guidance on menu-labeling regulations and its instructions to states and localities to hold off on enforcement of the regulations until a final federal rule is published.

“The FDA’s willingness to work directly with the IFA and the franchised restaurant industry will enable them to get the rules right the first time,” said IFA President and CEO Stephen J. Caldeira. “The decision to postpone guidance and conduct a full rulemaking process will allow stakeholders to provide input that will result in a workable regulation for small restaurant owners. We applaud the FDA for moving forward in the most efficient, cost-effective manner possible while giving franchise owners adequate time to comply.”

IFA continues to support providing consumers with clear and consistent nutrition information. In December, IFA
submitted commentsurging the FDA to complete a full rulemaking process for all provisions in the new menu-labeling regulations at the same time, rather than a tiered approach to help minimize the cost and confusion for small, franchised restaurants and more efficiently provide valuable information to consumers.

“The IFA supports consistent implementation of nutrition menu labeling information for the public,” Caldeira added. “IFA and the franchised restaurant industry look forward to continue working with the FDA to help them write efficient and effective rules for the franchised small businesses that make up most restaurant chains,” he said. “We truly appreciate the ongoing dialogue with FDA officials and their willingness to consider reasonable suggestions to the new regulations to ease the burden on small businesses.”

###

About the International Franchise Association
The International Franchise Association is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. Celebrating 50 years of excellence, education and advocacy, IFA protects, enhances and promotes franchising through government relations, public relations and educational programs. Through its awareness campaign highlighting the theme, Franchising: Building Local Businesses, One Opportunity at a Time, IFA promotes the 21 million jobs and $2.3 trillion of economic activity generated by franchising. IFA members include franchise companies in over 90 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law and business development.