Bush’s Import-Safety Plan Is Detailed

A new Bush administration proposal to give the federal government sweeping authority over imports won plaudits yesterday as a step toward restoring public confidence in product safety. But some advocacy groups warned that unless the plan was backed by significant funds, it would prove meaningless.

“My first reaction is, there are some really good things in it,” said Carol Tucker Foreman, food policy fellow at the Consumer Federation of America, a watchdog group in Washington. But she added, “Where’s the money, and what will the final regulations look like after the Congress and the media have moved on to other issues?”

Under the plan, imports deemed to be especially risky would undergo mandatory safety certifications in the country of origin before shipment. Importers could submit less risky products to voluntary certification in exchange for speedier handling at entry ports. Fines would increase for companies that sent hazardous products to the United States.

The proposal would also give the Food and Drug Administration the authority to recall dangerous food products from both foreign and domestic suppliers when a company refused to do so or moved too slowly — power the agency does not have now. And it would give the FDA stronger authority to demand preventive measures for high-risk foods

“We need to do more to ensure that American families have confidence in what they find on our store shelves,” Mr. Bush said. “They have the right to expect the food they eat, or the medicines they take, or the toys they buy for their children to be safe.”

Read the full New York Times story here.