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NAMAs Eric Dell Offers Update On Vending Machine Refrigerants GMO Products And Regulatory Rollbacks

CHICAGO -- On the heels National Automatic Merchandising Association 's advocacy Fly-In , which brought some 300 association members to Washington for a day of visits to their elected officials, NAMA senior vice-president for government affairs Eric Dell issued a progress report on the vending industry's legislative efforts. A main area of concern has been the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed changeover to a different refrigerant gas in new vending machines. NAMA is urging EPA to postpone impl...

August 28, 2017

CHICAGO -- On the heels National Automatic Merchandising Association's advocacy Fly-In, which brought some 300 association members to Washington for a day of visits to their elected officials, NAMA senior vice-president for government affairs Eric Dell issued a progress report on the vending industry's legislative efforts. A main area of concern has been the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed changeover to a different refrigerant gas in new vending machines. NAMA is urging EPA to postpone implementation of this requirement.

"Following our meeting with the EPA, they reached out regarding our petition to delay the implementation date for a complete transition of the refrigerant used in new vending machines," Dell reported. "After the EPA's outreach, we held another meeting with them to review the technical aspects of our request.

"In conjunction with this, we held a follow-up meeting with Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) to discuss the transition and our request for a delay," he continued. "The senator again expressed her support."

Another item of recent concern is the request by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for comments on a proposed rule regarding labels on products containing genetically modified organisms sold through vending machines. NAMA drafted a call to action and its members delivered more than 100 messages to USDA opposing any new labeling requirement on vending machines, Dell reported.

One hot topic at the Fly-In was regulatory reform, and during their visits, the industry delegates emphasized the need for lighter regulatory burdens. Following up, NAMA and several aligned associations have sent a letter to legislators urging them to expedite the confirmation of President Trump's executive-branch nominations. "Many agencies have officials serving in acting capacities which makes regulatory rollbacks difficult until they are officially confirmed by the Senate and sworn in to their new positions," Dell explained.

The NAMA government affairs chief reported that a number of Congressional offices have expressed the desire to visit NAMA members' operations in their states and districts. "As these visits are scheduled," he said, "we'll keep the industry updated and help prepare for these Congressional visits at their businesses."