In an effort to cut $58 billion from the federal budget for the second half of Fiscal Year 2011, House Republicans released a budget proposal late last week, one provision of which would mean steep cuts for food safety programs at both the FDA and USDA. Critics argue the reductions could cause a major hold-up on recently enacted food safety laws. # According to the Republican plan, 14 percent, or $3.2 billion, would be chopped from the budgets of the USDA and FDA.
“„The legislation marks the most sweeping reform of food safety oversight in more than 70 years. Although it will greatly improve our ability to detect and respond to outbreaks of foodborne illness, the new law is historic because Congress has made the prevention of food contamination the central focus of the nation’s food safety strategies. The days when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will do little more than respond to outbreaks are over. #