Extra funding reverses the trend of cost cutting and dwindling numbers of inspectors, which many believe have contributed to the decay of the food safety network in the US.
The bill that has passed to the Senate will require the FDA to submit a plan for improving the food safety network, which is under fire following a series of health scares related to tainted imports.
Plans will need to be submitted early next year, with implementation of proposed measures to commence by July 2009.
To hire inspectors and other safety work, the FDA is to be given $48m, while $7m is dedicated to ensuring imports meet US standards. Further food safety standards, hazard and critical control point (HACCP) planning, and reviewing the safegaurds in place for countries exporting to the US will be allocated $28m.
Andrew von Eschenbach, FDA commissioner, said that the agency was working on a memorandum that he will "assure the quality of the products imported to the United States" from China.
"We have to increase the inspector field force, but I'd like to do that by not simply saying we have to have more inspectors," he said. "I'd like to do it from the point of view that we are doing so strategically. What kind of inspectors, where do we need them, what kinds of tools do we need to provide for them."
FDA regulates about 80 percent of the food supply of food for human and animals, while the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees the remainder. However, according to the Senate version of the bill, which is now ready for debate, inspector numbers have halved in the last four years.
The FDA has 1,317 field investigators, 625 of whom conduct food inspections, according to the agency.
However, the USDA, which regulates the meat, poultry and egg industries, has about 7,600 inspectors in meatpacking plants.
Plans to relocate 250 inspectors and close seven food safety testing laboratories have been put on hold by Von Eschenbach, while the FDA awaits the findings of a recently formed presidential commission on the safety of imports, which is due report in about two months.
On Wednesday, the FDA announced it was launching a national program to bring about more uniformity in how state agencies regulate manufacturing, processing, packing, or food storage facilities under agency's jurisdiction.
Margaret Glavin, associate commissioner for regulatory affairs for the FDA, said a risk-based program represents a significant step in further integrating our food safety system.
"We realize it will be several years before it's fully implemented, but we're confident this program will bring great benefits to the public health," she said.
At present, between states programs, which can lead to inconsistencies in the oversight of food safety, according to the FDA.
"Adoption of voluntary standards for state regulatory programs will establish a uniform basis for measuring and improving the performance of state programs for regulating manufactured food and help the state and federal authorities reduce foodborne illness hazards in food facilities," the FDA said.
Standards to define best practice will include areas such as inspection, training, incident investigation and enforcement among others.
