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Obama Administration Wants to Combine FSIS and FDA

published: January 21st 2012
source: Food Safety News

There’s long been talk about creating a single federal food safety agency. That may become a reality if Congress grants the Obama Administration authority to reorganize the government. Such efforts are already underway following last week’s announcement to close more than 250 USDA-based offices across the country, as well as combining the commerce and trade offices.

There are several possible areas where the administration could pursue consolidation. Among those could be to consolidate USDA's Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). But before determining any further proposals, Congress would have to act to reinstate consolidation authority, according to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Jeff Zients, OMB director says the administration has not confirmed specific areas for further consolidation beyond the business and trade sectors discussed previously.

Food Safety News reports that Obama administration officials favor such a merger because it would make food safety independent of USDA, which focuses on a wide-range of tasks such as market reporting, data collection, research, farm and conservation programs, as well as promoting U.S. farm products. It also too often forgotten is the fact that USDA is in charge of the nation’s food-assistance programs.

Presidents long had the power to organize the executive branch of government, subject only to Congressional veto. However, Congress ended those organizational powers away during the Reagan Administration, according to Food Safety News.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has called for consolidation of all food-safety functions into a single agency. Several consumer activist groups also want one agency. Currently 12 agencies are involved in food safety measures.