FDA Brings In Furloughed Workers To Resume Safety Inspections For High-Risk Foods
The inspections, which have been halted because of the government shutdown, will focus on risky items like cheeses, produce and infant formula. The FDA oversees about 80 percent of the nation’s food supply. Meanwhile, the shutdown could derail the timetable for some highly anticipated drugs.
The Associated Press:
FDA Resuming Some Food Inspections Halted By Shutdown
The Food and Drug Administration said it will resume inspections of some of the riskiest foods such as cheeses, produce and infant formula as early as Tuesday. The routine inspections had been briefly halted as a result of the partial government shutdown. (1/14)
The Hill:
FDA To Restart High-Risk Food Inspections Despite Shutdown
"We are re-starting high risk food inspections as early as tomorrow," FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb tweeted on Monday, noting that the inspections will be performed by employees who have agreed to come back to work unpaid. (Birnbaum, 1/14)
The New York Times:
F.D.A. Says It Will Resume Inspecting Some High-Risk Foods
But Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the agency’s commissioner, said that he was asking employees to return from furlough to conduct some of the inspections and other agency functions involving surveillance of certain drugs, devices and potential outbreaks of food-borne illnesses. About one-third of all food safety inspections are for high-risk foods, he said. It was unclear when more routine inspections would resume. (Kaplan, 1/14)
Stat:
A Longer Shutdown At FDA Could Put Anticipated New Drugs In Jeopardy
The government shutdown could soon jeopardize highly anticipated new drugs from Janssen, Sanofi and Novartis for depression, diabetes and multiple sclerosis, as well as a host of other potential new therapies, according to a STAT analysis of upcoming regulatory decision dates. President Trump has warned that the shutdown — already the longest in history — could stretch on for “months or even years.” And though the Food and Drug Administration can retain more than half of its workforce thanks to application fees paid by drug and device makers, Commissioner Scott Gottlieb has cautioned the agency only has about three more weeks’ worth of funding to draw down. (Florko and Swetlitz, 1/14)
