On Nov. 12, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ issued a stay on the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Emergency Temporary Standard for COVID-19 vaccination and testing. FMI – The Food Industry Association President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin released the following statement following the court’s action:
“FMI is pleased the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay on OSHA’s ETS for vaccination and testing. In pausing the ETS, the court’s action today gives us additional time to seek clarity on elements of concern, including the availability of sufficient testing capacity and exemptions for workers with limited contact with others, such as truck drivers and warehouse workers.
“FMI remains concerned with the potentially harmful impact the ETS will have on American consumers and the food supply chain if implemented, as written, during the busiest grocery shopping season of the year.
“FMI remains committed to working with OSHA to encourage and facilitate vaccinations, continue protecting consumers and our workers and ensure U.S. supply chains remain up and running.”
As the food industry association, FMI works with and on behalf of the entire industry to advance a safer, healthier and more efficient consumer food supply chain. FMI brings together a wide range of members across the value chain – from retailers that sell to consumers, to producers that supply food and other products, as well as the wide variety of companies providing critical services – to amplify the collective work of the industry.
