FDA may get $275 million more for staff, outsourcing

The Bush administration is asking Congress for an additional $275 million for fiscal 2009 to allow the FDA to add more workers, expand programs and technology, and perhaps most interestingly, outsource some of its regulatory work. Given an earlier FDA request to expand its budget, the total added funds would come to about $404.7 million in fiscal 2009 than fiscal 2008, a 17.8 percent climb in spending. This will allow for 490 new FDA jobs. The funding request also asks Congress to expand FDA authority, notably to outsource some of its regulatory work by accrediting independent, third-party organizations to conduct voluntary inspections. These organizations would have the right to ban imports by a company if it delays, limits or denies access to agency inspectors.

To learn more about the new FDA budget (and outsourcing plans):
- read this Modern Healthcare article (reg. req.)

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