Democratic Senators request $3.75 million increase in ODSP budget

By Stephen Daniells

- Last updated on GMT

© YayaErnst / Getty Images
© YayaErnst / Getty Images

Related tags ODSP Fda Dietary supplements industry inspections

Five Democratic Senators have cosigned a letter the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies asking for a significant increase for the budget for the Office of Dietary Supplement Programs (ODSP).

The Senators are requesting a $3.75 million increase over the 2021 budget, which would give the ODSP a budget of $14.75 million for the fiscal year 2022.

In the letter dated June 17, the Senators state: “Given the widening use of dietary supplements, increased funding will allow ODSP to expand its inspection and enforcement activities around strengthening protections for consumers and improving the overall quality of dietary supplements.

“This requested level of funding will enable ODSP to increase its workforce and oversight of dietary supplement manufacturing; provide greater clarity for all stakeholders on the agency’s policies and requirements; and to expand its research, education, and communications works related to adverse events and informed decision-making around supplement use.”

The letter, co-signed by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Edward Markey (D-MA), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), was sent to Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-WI, and Sen. John Hoeven, R-ND.  The two are the chairman and ranking member of the Senate subcommittee that governs recommendations for the FDA budget, respectively.

The full letter can be viewed on the AHPA website, HERE​.

“A demonstration of the government’s commitment to eliminating illegal activity and leveling the playing field”

This follows a similar letter sent​ at the start of June from four dietary supplement trade associations to Sens. Baldwin and Hoeven requesting a $5 million increase to the 2022 ODSP budget

The American Herbal Products Association, along with the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, Council for Responsible Nutrition and United Natural Products Alliance, stated: “Responsible industry sees adequate funding for the agency as an important step for increasing consumer safety and industry adherence to the law, but also as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to eliminating illegal activity and leveling the playing field for the majority of companies already following the law.”

The associations also noted that 2021 and 2022 will be catchup years for FDA, as the Agency struggles to bring site inspections back up to speed and clear a backlog that accumulated during the global pandemic.

“We believe such an increase is warranted given the substantial growth in, and size of, the marketplace and the need to make up for the lapse in inspections and related ODSP activities caused by the pandemic,”​ the associations wrote.

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