[oblomov]

Not sure that the problem is underfunding of the FDA. At least part of the issue is the managed-trade treaties (called "free" trade by supporters and the MSM) such as GATT, which allow other countries standing to sue if there is perceived discrimination against their goods. This puts the US at a great disadvantage to other countries, since there is far more price transparency in the US than anywhere else.

The cost of safety testing should not be obscured in the general federal budget, but should be passed on directly to consumers. If food from China requires greater scrutiny, then a greater "safety assurance fee" should be applied to Chinese food products.

[ClaireSolt]

I once knew some of these inspectors. One was so highly skilled that he went from his gubmint job to selling funeral plans. A second inspected grain elevators for an insurance co, annually. He admitted that they would do as they wished, knowing it would be a year before he was back.

I doubt that beefing up the current bureaucracy with more money and people is the right approach to needed reform. The cost of drug approval process is a major factor in drug costs.

[ModelBreaker]

Big picture here. FDA has failed. The solution is to give it more money and power. Just as giving the education establishment more money year after year has fixed the deficiencies in our education system.

[sweetiepiezer]

ping

[traviskicks]

Why not just abolish the FDA...

http://www.neoperspectives.com/fda_tyranny.htm

[Citizen Tom Paine]

Beginning with Nixon, government technical work was “contracted out” to private companies. This way the number of Government scientists in an agency could be reduced. The existing scientists became COTRs (Contracting Officers Technical Representatives) who primarily managed contracts for the agency. After about 5 years, the keen edge of their technical expertise was gone. More importantly, the government labs that could do the technical work were underfunded and their personnel were cut back. They could only perform tasks that were mandated in the Constitution. Consequently, an agency could not perform technically in most instances. This holds for FDA and NASA and some other agencies. DOD is a slightly different situation.

[NittanyLion]

If these problems with Chinese imports continue, it wouldn’t surprise me to see a Consumer Reports type company that tests and certifies imported food products.

[AntiFed]

I think another issue is the pure stupidity of the cases the FDA takes on for prosecution.

www.casewatch.org/fdawarning/prod/2005/seaquist.shtml

[tiki]

I guess we could give them a taste of American justice. We could write laws that they couldn’t sell here unless they lived up to all the regulations of the US and that consumers could sue and win judgements in US courts and their whole countries rights to send products to the US would be suspended until the judgement was paid.

[khnyny]

You’re right.