PMA Joins 21 Other Organizations to Urge Congress to Increase the FDA's Food Safety Budget for FSMA Implementation
NEWARK, DE - Together with Costco, Wal-Mart, and 19 other organizations, the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) has written a letter to congressional leaders urging them to increase the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) food safety budget for Food Safety Modernization Act implementation.
The letter, which can be read in full by clicking here, expresses support for FDA’s $109.5 million FSMA funding request. The letter states, “FSMA places prevention as the cornerstone of our nation’s food safety strategy. It includes new requirements for manufacturers and provides the FDA with the authorities it needs to adequately fulfill its food safety mission. This new focus on prevention and expanded authority as granted by Congress necessitates an update and increase to FDA’s food safety tools, from regulations to infrastructure.”
The letter was addressed to the House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Harold Rogers and Ranking Member Nita M. Lowey, and the Senate Committee on Appropriations Chairman Thad Cochran and Ranking Member Barbara A. Mikulski, according to a PMA press release.
“FDA and stakeholders have put a great deal of time, effort, and thought into development of regulations that protect public health and assure confidence in our nation’s food supply,” said Dr. Jim Gorny, Vice President of Food Safety and Technology for PMA. “Those regulations – and consumer safety – are critically dependent on a properly funded implementation plan.”
FDA has requested funding specifically to address these priorities:
- Inspection modernization and training;
- Advancing the National Integrated Food Safety System,
- Education and technical assistance for industry;
- Technical staffing and guidance development at FDA;
- Building the new import safety system; and
- Risk analytics and evaluation.
“In the near future we’ll be sharing our thoughts on funding allocations and prioritization to support FSMA implementation based on the needs of the produce industry,” added Gorny.
The letter concludes with a statement noting that with the $109.5 million in new budget authority, all 21 organizations that have signed the letter support congressional oversight to ensure those investments are implemented effectively and to make certain the agency’s regulatory implementation of FSMA is consistent with what the law requires, and what Congress intended in adopting the law.
