Bush seeks 20 pct more to protect US food supply

The Bush administration asked Congress on Monday for a 20 percent or $30 million increase in fiscal 2006 to protect the nation's food supply from potential terrorist attacks.

The proposed increase would boost to $180 million the food defense budget shared by the Agriculture Department, Food and Drug Administration and Department of Homeland Security.

Fiscal 2006 begins on Oct. 1.

Two-thirds of the White House's requested increase would expand a food emergency response network of laboratories across the nation able to analyze food samples for biological, chemical and radiological threats. The network, operated by the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service and the FDA, could add 19 more state laboratories with the extra funds, the government said.

The remaining $10 million in increased funds would be spent on better coordination among agencies and on research in "areas posing the greatest perceived threat to the food supply, based in part on the most recent intelligence," the FDA said in a statement. Such research would include prevention technologies, tamper-proof packaging and rapid test methods to detect contamination.

In December, former Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said one of his biggest worries as a cabinet member was a possible terrorist attack on the U.S. food supply. During the past two years, the FDA has required foodmakers to keep detailed records of their suppliers and customers, tightened regulations for food imports, and increased the number of food inspections it conducts.

The USDA monitors U.S. meat and poultry plants while the FDA is responsible for ensuring the safety of the remaining 80 percent of the U.S. food supply.

Congress will spend the next few months reviewing and debating the administration's budget request for the federal government before finalizing a spending plan.