Earlier this week, FDA requested a total budget of $5.1 billion as part of President Obama's FY 2017 budget—an 8 percent increase over FDA's FY 2016 budget. The request includes funds for further implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act ("FSMA"). FDA recently finalized major rules that implement the core of FSMA (see previous Jones Day Updates here and here), including rules requiring food companies to undertake safety measures designed to prevent outbreaks of foodborne illness and rules focusing on current good manufacturing practices ("CGMPs") and preventative control requirements. FDA's FY 2017 budget request includes funds to "build[] on this work by supporting federal and state efforts to establish enforceable safety standards for produce farms." The funding will also "enable the [Agency] to continue progress to hold importers accountable for verifying that imported food meets U.S. safety standards, as well as conduct food safety audits of foreign food facilities."
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