The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided no indication when it plans to release its calorie disclosure rules for vending machines, despite the fact that the agency planned to release final rules some time in 2011, vending operators learned during the government affairs symposium at the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) OneShow at the Venetian Sands resort in Las Vegas.
Sandy Larson, NAMA’s senior director and council, offered an update during the symposium, which was attended by NAMA state council officers. The symposium is an annual gathering where state council officials learn about regulatory issues facing the vending industry.
The vending industry, guided by NAMA, provided input on proposed calorie disclosure requirements in 2011 to the FDA. The calorie disclosure rules are part of the federal health care act.
Larson said in her correspondents with FDA officials, the agency said it is still trying to assimilate all of the comments. Once final rules are released, Larson said the industry will most likely be allowed one to two years to comply with the rules.
Larson said if the health care law is ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court before final rules are released, there is a possibility there will be no calorie disclosure rules for vending.
She noted that some states have enacted calorie disclosure rules for restaurants, but not for vending.
