Making a better label

Monday, April 21, 2008 | 2:06 a.m.

House Democrats have proposed legislation that would require all imported produce and medical devices to carry labels identifying their countries of origin. Manufacturers of other foods would have to post such information for each ingredient on their corporate Web sites, and drug labels would have to identify the nation of origin for a medicine’s active ingredient.

The measure also would increase funding for the Food and Drug Administration through new fees that would be paid by industry.

Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which proposed the legislation last week, said consumers deserve to be able to make fully informed purchase decisions, the Associated Press reported.

“For example, if it comes from Great Britain, you’re going to assume it’s pretty safe,” Dingell said in pitching the legislation Thursday. “If it comes from China, you’re going to say, ‘Holy cats, we better watch out.’ ”

The FDA has come under criticism in recent years for a rash of widespread government recalls that have included tainted produce and drugs and lead-contaminated toys. Most of the recalled items originated in China, with the exception of the produce, which originated in California.

It’s clear that the FDA lacks enough money and manpower to perform the necessary inspections of manufacturers in the United States and abroad. President Bush has proposed increasing FDA funding by about 3 percent next year, which would bring the agency’s budget to about $1.8 billion. Andrew von Eschenbach, the FDA’s chief commissioner, said that amount would not cover existing costs in 2009, let alone allow for hiring more people.

Congress should increase the FDA’s funding to a level that allows it to effectively protect the nation’s food and drug supplies. Americans also should be able to choose whether or not to buy imported items. And these proposed labeling requirements could provide an important step toward giving consumers the information they have every right to have.