The Consumer Brands Association, which represents the $ 2.1 trillion food, beverage and consumer industry that employs 2.1 million workers, urged federal agencies to “move quickly, anticipate challenges, quickly answer questions ”and partner with companies to implement the new plan.
“The Consumer Brands Association and our member companies are ready to partner with you to vaccinate Americans,” Freeman wrote.
The letter to Biden included a “small sample” of questions that have emerged among business leaders, including:
What is considered documentation to check vaccination and how will compliance with booster vaccines be taken into account?
Will the requirements only apply to fully FDA-approved vaccines?
Does the government plan to centralize vaccine monitoring?
What are the consequences of falsifying the vaccination status or test results?
What is considered adequate documentation to obtain a negative test result?
Employees should choose not to vaccinate, is the company or employee responsible for ensuring and paying for the tests?
When will the requirements be formally issued?
Do the new federal requirements include exemptions for religious beliefs and disabilities?
The questions underscore the uncertainty created by the Biden plan and hint at the frustration of the business community over the federal government’s response throughout the pandemic.
In an interview Friday, Betsy Booren, vice president of regulatory affairs for the Consumer Brands Association, told CNN Business that the industry was surprised by Biden’s announcement and would have liked to have seen more details in the initial release.
“But that has been a concern I have had throughout this crisis, regardless of the administration that is there,” Booren said. “Whether it was the Trump administration or the Biden administration, our concern is to get clarity on these issues.”