Degette Lauds Plan To Keep FDA's Denver Food Safety Lab Open

WASHINGTON, DC – Stemming from the Energy and Commerce Committee's Investigation of the Bush Administration's proposal to consolidate Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labs, a provision was included in H.R. 3161, The FY08 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, blocking the closure of FDA field and district labs, including the facility at the Denver Federal Center in Lakewood. Vice Chair Diana DeGette (D-CO) today applauded the plan to keep these vital labs open.

"The Bush Administration's proposal to consolidate our food and drug safety labs puts our food supply at risk," said DeGette. "The FDA provided no evidence to our committee that closing these labs would result in increased efficiencies. With outbreaks of food borne illnesses almost daily, we cannot afford to lose the expertise of the scientists in the Denver lab or elsewhere. Closing these labs would be disastrous for not only the people of Colorado, but the entire United States."

The provision included in H.R. 3161, which will be voted on later today, prevents the FDA from closing the 13 field labs or 20 district labs proposed by the Administration. The Bush Administration's proposal to change FDA's structure and management will only exacerbate the current food safety situation. A recent Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigation Subcommittee hearing found that FDA has failed to adequately respond to increased imports of foreign food products. Less than 1 percent of imports are examined. Recent accounts of tainted imports from China provide additional evidence that FDA lacks sufficient resources and authority to ensure food safety. The laboratory closings and removal of functions and personnel from the field is counterproductive to FDA's mission of protecting Americans from unsafe food.

The Bush Administration recently announced that it would temporarily halt consolidating FDA labs for 90 days in order to further evaluate concerns about the safety of imported foods.

"Halting these lab closures for 90 days simply does not go far enough. These labs are critical to not only the safety of our food supply, but our national security as well," warned DeGette.

The announcement by the Bush Administration comes on the heels of last month's Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing, "Diminished Capacity: Can the FDA Assure the Safety and Security of the Nation's Food Supply?" DeGette questioned federal officials about the impact of FDA lab closings on our nation's food supply. Also testifying at the hearing was Belinda Collins, the Denver District Lab Director.