Rep. Waxman: FDA lax on enforcement

[leftchick]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060626/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/fda_enforcement

WASHINGTON - The number of warning letters sent to companies in violation of federal food and drug safety laws has fallen by more than half under the Bush administration, according to an investigative report released Monday by a Democratic lawmaker.

The drop in enforcement actions by the Food and Drug Administration occurred even as agency inspectors continued to turn up a relatively steady number of industry violations, said Rep. Henry Waxman (news, bio, voting record).

"Americans have relied on FDA to ensure the safety of their food and drugs for 100 years," the California Democrat said. "But under the Bush administration, enforcement efforts have plummeted and serious violations are ignored. FDA can't do its job when its enforcement arm is tied behind its back."

The FDA issued just 535 warning letters in 2005 to manufacturers of drug, food, medical and other products regulated by the agency, down from 1,154 in 2000, according to the report. The number of seizures of unsafe products also declined, to 20 in 2005, from 36 five years previously.