Reps. introduce FDA Globalization Act of 2009 to earmark funding against increased inspections of int'l food and drug facilities

WASHINGTON In an effort to better safeguard America’s food and drug supply, Reps. John Dingell, D-Mich., Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., and Bart Stupak, D-Mich., on Wednesday introduced the Food and Drug Administration Globalization Act of 2009, a piece of legislation that would earmark funding specifically against increased inspections of international food and drug facilities and improve information systems.

The legislation also would require food producers to have preventive food safety plans in place and subjects the plans to FDA inspection; require food imports to meet all U.S. standards; would close the loopholes in the FDA’s ability to trace the source of contaminated products; and would impose stiff penalties on companies that violate safety standards, according to a press release issued announcing introduction of the legislation.

“Antiquated authorities and years of starving the FDA of resources has put the public health at risk,” stated Dingell. “Every few months brings another crisis — E. Coli in spinach, contaminated heparin, tainted peppers and now salmonella in peanut butter — that has killed eight people and sickened more than 483 people. The time to act is now,” he said. “Americans shouldn’t have to worry about whether the food they serve their families and the medical products they use to improve their health might actually make them sick.”

“As witnessed by the latest salmonella outbreak, the Peanut Corp. of America’s outrageous actions show that food manufacturers cannot be trusted to self-regulate,” Pallone charged.