Silver Spring, MD—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it needs more dough for its fiscal year 2013 budget.

Most of the money—$4.5 billion extra, which is 17% more than its FY 2012 budget—won’t come from the federal budget. Rather, FDA wants to increase user fees, which the agency says would account for 98% of the proposed increase. These user fees would come from those submitting generic drugs for review.

Earmarks in FDA FY 2013 that affect the natural products industry include more than $253 million for food safety initiatives. Says the agency, “With the support of new user fees, FDA will foster a prevention-focused domestic and import food safety system to protect the health of American consumers.”  FDA also wants about $10 million to increase its presence in China for food and drug safety.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine, April 2012 (online 2/17/2012)