Bush administration announces plan to better monitor food safety.

The Bush administration last week proposed tighter and tougher inspection rules meant to keep dangerous food and other products out of the United States. President Bush said he also wants broader power to recall food that is unsafe for U.S. consumers. President Bush said the administration would begin to implement the recommendations and 50 "action steps" made by the Interagency Working Group on Import Safety.

These "action steps" include: establishing new incentives for importers that follow strong safety practices, Increasing training of inspectors in foreign countries, working on higher standards for high-risk foods and consumer goods, and increasing penalties for those that violate import standards.

"The working group recommended that we adopt a smarter approach and more effective approach that focuses on prevention--building safety into products from the very beginning of the supply chain. Under this approach, we will focus on stopping dangerous products from reaching our border in the first place--for example, by ensuring that food and consumer products meet our standards for safety before they leave their home countries," Bush said in a statement.

Bush backed proposals and recommendations made by an advisory panel headed by Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, designed to find ways to improve the safety of U.S. imports. Leavitt said the panel did not estimate how much the import safety recommendations would cost, but the administration will begin including resources in the president's 2009 budget for some of the proposals.

Among the panel's recommendations, the Food and Drug Administration would have the power to order a recall of food when safety concerns arise, a move which would require congressional approval. The FDA also should have the authority to reach agreements with some countries to require certain high-risk foods meet FDA standards before they can be exported, the panel said.

Leavitt said the Action Plan for Import Safety would work in conjunction with a Food Protection Plan, which was also released the same day. The food plan covers both human and animal food, addresses intentional and unintentional contamination of food, and domestic and imported foods. HHS Deputy Secretary Tevi Troy and FDA Commissioner Andrew Von Eschenbach said that the Food Action Plan would focus on preventing problems from reaching the American consumer, as well as responding immediately when a problem is identified.

Under the plan, FDA would receive additional statutory authority to establish controls to prevent intentional adulteration for high-risk foods, accredit food producers, require electronic import certificates, mandate recalls, and enhance access to food records during emergencies. FDA regulates some 80 percent of foods, with the USDA regulating dairy and meat products.

The advisory panel also recommended new incentives for importers that follow strong safety practices and have good track records. It also would increase training for inspectors in foreign countries so they can stop dangerous goods before they reach the United States.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) welcomed the report but questioned how it will be administered. "Based on this administration's track record and philosophy, I have low expectations for their willingness to exercise these new authorities and ultimately, their willingness to implement this report," said DeLauro. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the plan may lack the necessary funding for the FDA and other agencies "to carry out their heavy mandates."