Durbin Calls for Reform of FDA Import Program

Rick Patterson

Attorney

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As it stands today, when any country and/or company export food products to the United States, there are no inspections to ensure that the traders have what the U.S. would consider adequate regulatory systems. Meanwhile, millions of Americans are getting sick every year due to food borne illnesses.

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) has introduced legislation, which would increase the FDA's ability to inspect and oversee imports from overseas. Senator Durbin suggests that we impose a fee on anyone importing food to the U.S. In turn, those fees would then generate the monies necessary for inspections of foods coming into this country. As Durbin put it "If you want to sell in America, you have to meet American standards. With all the recalls, we have endured of late, I'm sure many Americans will agree. The last thing we want to support is imported defective products.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Defective and Dangerous Products.