WASHINGTON — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has requested nearly $2.4 billion to improve food protection, modernize drug safety and improve the safety and review of medical devices as part of President Bush’s 2009 budget. If the funds are granted, they will amount to a 5.7% increase over the FDA’s budget for the current fiscal year. The agency has said it would spend $42.2 million of the additional funds on devoting more workforce and resources to policing food production and handling sites in the United States and abroad. "This budget enables us to continue development of the staff and programs necessary to safeguard the food we eat and improve the safety and development of drugs, vaccines, devices and other medical products," Andrew C. von Eschenbach, Commissioner of Food and Drugs, said in a statement yesterday.
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