Lobbyists Opposing FDA Changes

Congress is attempting to formulate and pass legislation to address problems that have become apparent at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). After increasing questions in recent years about the safety of prescription drugs and imported food, we've learned about the limited ability of FDA to regulate effectively some of the products.

Legislation in Congress, particularly in the House Energy and Commerce Committee, that addresses ways to reform how FDA protects us from harmful products in the marketplace is being strongly opposed by lobbyists for the food and drug industries. According to an article in POLITICO, the lobbyists are trying to delay the legislation and run the clock out in this abbreviated election year session of Congress.

One of the lobbying groups active in the fight is the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA). It represents agribusiness and food processing companies. GMA last year put forth its own proposal calling on FDA to adopt a foreign supplier quality assurance program after FDA announced an import ban on five different types of Chinese farm-raised seafood products. Apparently, GMA thinks Congress wants to go too far in moving to protect consumers at the expense of its members.

The Energy and Commerce Committee seems undeterred, according to POLITICO: "Our plan is still to do a comprehensive overhaul of FDA to equip it to deal with an increasingly globalized market," said spokeswoman Jodi Seth. "We're interested in cleaning up the whole mess, including contaminated heparin and tainted tomatoes. Consumers want all the products they consume to be safe."

It may not be easy to get anything meaningful passed to enhance FDA's powers this session, but one would think the lobbyists would be less resistant to getting a bill completed this year — while they still have their friend in the White House.