FDA breaks down FSMA funding request
According to the agency, the funding requested for fiscal year 2014 (which stands at $4.7 billion total) is necessary to ensure security of the food supply, properly oversee food imports and verify safety of medical products.
Where it’s going
FDA spokesperson Shelly Burgess summarized some of the FSMA funding’s targeted purpose. “Of that, $59 million will be for increasing the effectiveness of inspections through adoption of preventive controls, and support improvements in food and feed safety science and risk analysis.”
The agency representative added that “$166 million will target activities associated with the improvements to the import process, enhancing the safety protections for imported food and feed while simultaneously improving the efficiency and speed of food and feed entry decisions by FDA inspectors”.
Where it’s coming from
The nearly $300 million in expenditures related to FSMA-related activity will come from a number of sources. One, the budget proposes a food facility registration and inspection fee, as well as a food importer fee.
The agency also is suggesting new user fees to support its cosmetic and food contact substance notification programs. The remainder of the FSMA-related funding will come from budget authority, according to the agency.
The total $4.7 billion request constitutes a leap of $821 million over 2012 budget levels.
