FDA Report Says More Funding Needed to Implement FSMA Mandates
The Food and Drug Administration needs more resources to finish implementing Food Safety Modernization Act programs and regulations, it said in a report to Congress. The report outlined FDA's FSMA mandates, as well as progress on implementation made to date. “The promise of FSMA to modernize the food safety in the U.S. and to significantly reduce the burden of foodborne illness cannot be realized without additional funding,” said Michael Taylor, FDA deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine, in remarks made in conjunction with the release the report.
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“Rules can be written but they can’t be implemented effectively and efficiently with current funding,” said Taylor. According to the report, FDA needs “substantial additional funds” to meet the law’s mandate for inspection of foreign food facilities. It will also need more money for recruiting and training staff to audit the upcoming Foreign Supplier Verification Program, to oversee the Voluntary Qualified Importer Program and the third party accreditation process, and to develop information systems to support risk-based decision making, FDA’s report said.
FDA said it will need an additional $400 to $450 million over fiscal year 2012 levels to “make FSMA a fully successful initiative.” According to FDA, “the President’s 2014 budget proposal, if enacted, would make a significant contribution to funding FSMA implementation.
FDA’s report titled “Building Domestic Capacity to Implement the FDA Food Safety and Modernization Act” is (here).