FDA, FSMA, and the USDA Budget Increases- Update from Latest Spending Bill

The latest reporting on the spending bill passed by the United States House of Representatives contains budget increases for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the USDA Food Safety Inspection Services (FSIS). The Washington Post this morning reports the following on the two Agency’s budgets:

There’s $2.589 billion for the Food and Drug Administration, a $37 million increase from last year. There’s $27 million in new funding for the Food Safety Modernization Act. The Food Safety and Inspection Service would receive $1.016 billion, a $5 million increase.

The current bill contains a net increase for the Agency of $37 million. The FDA will receive $27 million to implement FSMA, which is the first overhaul of the US food safety system since the 1930s. FSIS, with a smaller mandate to inspect only beef, pork, and some poultry, will receive a smaller increase.

The FDA budget, which impacts medical devices, drugs, cosmetics, veterinary and pet products, dietary supplements, and non-FSIS (meat) products, represents one of the few federal agencies to receive a budget increase.

The FDA budget of $2.589 billion will be applied to a wide-range of programs, but clearly signals increased scrutiny and enforcement.