FDA requests budget increase to implement food safety law

(Reuters) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday it is requesting a budget of $4.7 billion in fiscal 2014, including $295.8 million to implement new food safety regulations. The proposed budget represents an increase over the $4.03 billion included in the 2013 budget after automatic spending cuts mandated by Congress, known as the sequester. The FDA is financed in part with funds authorized by Congress and in part by fees charged to industry to cover the cost of reviewing and approving new drugs. The agency’s commissioner, Dr. …