WASHINGTON, May 2 (UPI) -- A top U.S. Food and Drug Administration official reportedly has refused to support Democrats on tougher inspection plans.
The stalemate over stronger regulations on imported drugs and new fees on drug makers was the latest round of conflict between lawmakers and the administration over drug safety, The Wall Street Journal said Friday.
Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, backed away from comments this week that appeared to agree the FDA needed an additional $225 million to beef up foreign inspections.
Democrats thanked her repeatedly for what they saw as ammunition in support of their legislation. But Woodcock refused to specify under questioning how much the FDA needs to inspect foreign drug facilities properly.
She said the agency needs more resources to track down foreign drugs but added that the administration must evaluate exactly how much.
