The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA), a statewide trade association advocating for the retail food industry, recently announced its legislative and regulatory priorities for 2018.
“PFMA made great progress on long-standing issues in 2017 and we will work with our
members in 2018 to get our priority legislation passed into law,” said Alex Baloga, president and
CEO.
Alcohol wholesale and retail sales reform remains a top priority this year. PFMA will continue its
efforts to update the state’s alcohol sales and distribution laws to allow its members to sell adult
beverages in any quantity at their stores. In addition, the association will work to create a
competitive, market-based wholesale distribution system for retailers to purchase and have
products delivered to their stores.
PFMA supports legislation to adjust the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
schedule to allow for a longer distribution period for recipients to receive their monthly benefits.
Currently, benefits are distributed during the first 10 days of the month, which can cause product
shortages and staffing issues. The association supports HB 877, sponsored by Representative
Tarah Toohil, and SB 568, sponsored by Senator David Argall.
The association supports making taxing formula changes to Vape/E-cigarettes. Senate Bill 508,
sponsored by Senator Camera Bartolotta, and House Bill 1477, sponsored by Representative
Jeff Wheeland, would eliminate the 40 percent wholesale tax and replace it with a five-cent per
milliliter retail tax on e-liquid.
Credit Card Skimming continues to be of concern to PFMA members, who support HB1918,
sponsored by Representative Kristin Phillips-Hill. The legislation would help eliminate and
punish the use of fraudulent credit-debit card devices. It makes possessing or using a scanning
or skimming device or re-encoder device illegal.
PFMA members also support Senator Mario Scavello and Representative Mark Mustio in their
efforts to repeal the Philadelphia sugar-sweetened beverage tax. The legislation would pre-empt
all municipalities from enacting a similar tax or fee.
The association opposes increasing the state’s cigarette tax or any new or additional taxes on
e-cigarettes or other tobacco products (OTP); an increase in the state sale tax or base
expansion; mandatory statewide paid and unpaid leave; property tax elimination or tax shifts,
and personal income tax increases.
“We urge all PFMA members to get involved in these important issues,” Baloga said. “Call, visit,
email or write your lawmakers to make sure they understand your position on these issues.”
