A top consumer group is urging urging federal, state and local leaders to exempt manufacturing facilities and suppliers of consumer packaged goods from restrictions put in place due to the coronavirus.
The Consumer Brands Association (CBA) joined with 60 industry groups to send a letter on Thursday calling for uniformity and consistent policies. It noted that some states have exempted manufacturing facilities for food, beverages and other packaged goods from instituting bans and curfews, while others have not.
“Gathering restrictions and curfews are critical for protecting Americans and helping to flatten the curve, but the unintended consequences of those efforts could be detrimental to the production of essential goods for our fellow Americans,” CBA CEO Geoff Freeman said in a statement.
He added, “Our industry is working around the clock to manufacture the products Americans need now more than ever. Our supply chain and production capabilities are strong and they will remain strong so long as we are permitted to operate at full capacity.”
The letter called for a national public framework that explains that food, beverage and consumer packaged goods manufacturers, as well as transporters, are exempted from bans so that employees are encouraged to work while healthy.
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) also called for the government to designate manufacturing supply chains as “essential” to help mitigate interruptions in providing health and safety supplies during the outbreak.
The letter is signed by CBA, as well as the American Bakers Association, American Beverage Association, American Sugar Alliance, National Confectioners Association, Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), National Restaurant Association, Pet Food Institute, the International Dairy Food Association, United Egg Producers and Wine Institute, among other groups.
