DeLauro: Same Scrutiny Applied to Reimportation Should Have Been Applied to Poultry Imports Rule

DeLauro: Same Scrutiny Applied to Reimportation Should Have Been Applied to Poultry Imports Rule

Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) today said the same scrutiny that the Bush Administration is applying to reimportation of FDA-approved prescription drugs from counties like Canada should have been applied to poultry imports from China. Last week, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the U.S. would soon allow imports of processed poultry and poultry products from the People's Republic of China. The administration claims these products will be safe because they will be fully processed, destroying any diseases that may be present. The first proposal to do this occurred just months ago.

The issue of reimportation has been pending before Congress for years as the Administration claims it is scrutinizing the safety of these medications.

"When you consider that this Administration has scrutinized the importation of drugs from Canada for years - a method proven to lower prescription drug costs of million of Americans, you can only conclude that the Administration's logic for allowing poultry imports from China is completely inconsistent," said DeLauro. "This policy was allowed to go through in just months despite numerous safety concerns and the possibility of allowing a pandemic into this country, and warnings from FSIS's own inspectors of the safety of Chinese plants.

"This country has no reason to receive poultry imports from China, but every reason to provide lower-cost prescription medications to seniors and those on Medicare. The China policy should never have been allowed to more forward."

http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2006/April/reimportation_poultry_imports_4_24_06.html