The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is beginning a multi-year hiring scheme that could ease strain on its ability to react in times of crisis, though the initiative do
es not likely go far enough for detractors both within and outside the agency who say it is dangerously under funded.FDA recently announced that in the 2008 fiscal year it is looking to fill more than 600 new positions as well as backfill over 700 others as part of the 2007 FDA Amendments Act, the Food Protection Plan and the Import Safety Action Plan. Though this represents nearly triple the amount hired between 2005 and 2007, the fact the agency's mandate is vast and that it is not guaranteed to actually find such specialized staff mean the initiative may not quickly translate into more effective surveillance for consumer goods.FDA announced it is looking to hire hundreds of staff with science and medical backgrounds to monitor the safety and effectiveness of a number of categories of products of which food is only one small part. These categories include human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, food, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. In November 2007, the government announced wide sweeping plans to improve the safety of the US food supply, with measures including more stringent inspections, stronger penalties and mandatory recalls. The Food Protection Plan and the Import Safety Action Plan emerged as part of this.These two plans aim to prevent contamination in the domestic food chain and to ensure the safety of imported food.Under the Food Protection Plan, FDA will also be able to issue additional preventive controls for high-risk foods, accredit third parties for voluntary food inspections, increase access to food records during emergencies, and issue a mandatory recall if voluntary recalls are not effective.The Import Safety Action Plan comprises short- and long-term recommendations to enhance the safety of the increasing volume of imports entering the US.Among the measures outlined by the plan is the creation of a stronger certification process in exporting countries, a greater US presence overseas, and stronger penalties for those responsible for selling unsafe products.
Source: FDA http://www.fda.gov/jobs/hiringinitiative08.html
es not likely go far enough for detractors both within and outside the agency who say it is dangerously under funded.FDA recently announced that in the 2008 fiscal year it is looking to fill more than 600 new positions as well as backfill over 700 others as part of the 2007 FDA Amendments Act, the Food Protection Plan and the Import Safety Action Plan. Though this represents nearly triple the amount hired between 2005 and 2007, the fact the agency's mandate is vast and that it is not guaranteed to actually find such specialized staff mean the initiative may not quickly translate into more effective surveillance for consumer goods.FDA announced it is looking to hire hundreds of staff with science and medical backgrounds to monitor the safety and effectiveness of a number of categories of products of which food is only one small part. These categories include human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, food, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. In November 2007, the government announced wide sweeping plans to improve the safety of the US food supply, with measures including more stringent inspections, stronger penalties and mandatory recalls. The Food Protection Plan and the Import Safety Action Plan emerged as part of this.These two plans aim to prevent contamination in the domestic food chain and to ensure the safety of imported food.Under the Food Protection Plan, FDA will also be able to issue additional preventive controls for high-risk foods, accredit third parties for voluntary food inspections, increase access to food records during emergencies, and issue a mandatory recall if voluntary recalls are not effective.The Import Safety Action Plan comprises short- and long-term recommendations to enhance the safety of the increasing volume of imports entering the US.Among the measures outlined by the plan is the creation of a stronger certification process in exporting countries, a greater US presence overseas, and stronger penalties for those responsible for selling unsafe products.Source: FDA http://www.fda.gov/jobs/hiringinitiative08.html
Aporte: Guillermo Figueroa
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