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Bush Advised To Empower FDA

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By TERENCE HUNT, The Associated Press

Published: November 6, 2007

WASHINGTON - An advisory commission created in response to concerns about recalls of dangerous toothpaste, dog food and toys will recommend to President Bush that the Food and Drug Administration be empowered to order mandatory recalls of products deemed a risk to consumers, an administration official said Monday.

The panel also will urge increasing the presence of U.S. inspectors from Customs, the Border Patrol, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and other agencies in countries that are major exporters to the United States.

The official said the commission would have greater recall authority, including the ability to stop products from entering the commerce stream before unsafe or unreliable products end up on the shelves.

A third recommendation calls for establishing a certification program - likened to a seal of approval - for firms with a proven track record for meeting safety standards. The administration sees that as a powerful tool because it presumably would make certified suppliers more attractive to big retailers.

In addition, regulators would be able to concentrate on countries and companies that don't have a reputation for meeting certification standards.

Another proposal calls for focusing resources on riskier products - tires, for example.

Bush is expected to receive the recommendations today from the advisory commission established in July to study import safety. The panel was led by Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt.

Details of the commission's recommendations were disclosed by an administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the recommendations have not been publicly released.

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