Posted April 8, 2014
The FDA needs increased funding in FY 2015 to completely
implement rules for the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), according to an
Agri-Pulse article available here.
FDA Administrator Margaret Hamburg recently told a
Senate panel that the current FY 2014 funding levels would allow the agency to
issue the FSMA regulations, but “without increased funding it will be
impossible to implement the rules.”
Hamburg testified that the overall FDA budget request
includes a “modest” 8 percent increase.
The “administration is requesting $4.74 billion for the total program
level, which is $358 million above the FY 2014 enacted level. Of the total funding, $2.58 billion is in
budget authority and $2.16 billion in user fees. The FY 2015 increase consists of $23 million
in budget authority and $335 million in user fees.”
The growth in user fee funding “stems from several new
programs, along with increased collection authority for many of FDA’s existing
programs.”
Hamburg testified that an increased budget authority
would allow FDA to develop guidance and provide technical assistance for
industry, “provide technical support for FDA inspectors, and begin to implement
training for FDA and state inspectors.”
Hamburg also said “if the proposed user fee revenue is
authorized and appropriated, the agency will be able to undertake a wider array
of activities needed to fulfill the goals of the FSMA, including retraining of
the federal and state inspection force, training and technical assistance for small
and mid-size growers and processors, and building a modern import oversight
system mandated by FSMA.”
Industry participants hope the FSMA rules will not
duplicate marketing agreements and orders, according to an article by Food
Safety News available here. In comments to the FSMA proposed rule for
produce safety, several industry associations asked the FDA to look at programs
that already exist under federal and state marketing orders such as the
California Leafy Green Products Handler Marketing Agreement.
For more information on the FSMA and food safety,
please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
