February 5, 2008

USDA budget documents lists industrial goals and allocation of funds
 

USDA has released its 2009 budget documents listing its specific goals and budget proposals for the year.

USDA said it would submit a legislative proposal to allow its Food Safety and Inspection (FSIS) to collect US$92 million through licensing fee from all inspected establishments. The agency also wants to collect an additional US$4 million from plants requiring more inspection activities due to performance failures.

Its budget proposals also include US$81 million to enhance the food supply's safety and security.

Among the US$81 million budget, US$47 million more will be used to improve pest and disease threat surveillance, animal identification and other efforts; US$20 million more will be used to research improvements in animal vaccines, diagnostic tests and other efforts; US$14 million more will be used for research regarding the protection of food supply.

The budget documents also list its goals in reducing cases of salmonella, listeria monocytogenes and E. coli and they include,

• Plants testing equal to, or less than 50 percent of salmonella performance standards will be increased from 80 percent to 85 percent in 2009.
   
• Percentage positive rate for listeria monocytogenes convenience food products will be decreased from 0.29 percent to 0.28 percent in 2009.
   
• To reduce prevalence of E.coli on ground beef from 0.24 percent to 0.20 percent in 2009.