IDFA yesterday joined more than 20 food and beverage industry groups in calling on senators to advance the confirmation of Scott Gottlieb, M.D., as the top official of the Food and Drug Administration. “The FDA is a very important part of ensuring that Americans continue to enjoy the safest consumer products in the world and the swift confirmation of a new commissioner will ensure the agency's activities are not impaired,” the groups said.

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions is scheduled to vote Thursday to advance Gottlieb in the confirmation process. The groups addressed a letter to committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Committee Member Patty Murray (D-WA).

In the letter, the groups stressed to the senators the need for continued collaborative efforts with the FDA and industry on food safety regulations such as the Food Safety Modernization Act, on advancing consumer trust and on improving product transparency.

“Completing this work and identifying ways to improve existing laws and regulations cannot proceed without strong leadership at the top of FDA,” the groups said. “We are encouraged by President Trump's nomination of Dr. Gottlieb as he brings a high level of knowledge and experience to the job.”

Gottlieb is a practicing physician and resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He served as deputy commissioner at FDA from 2005 to 2007 and was nominated to the position last month by President Donald Trump.

Read the letter and view all signatures here.

Stephen Ostroff, M.D., now serves as acting commissioner, but he is expected to return to the position of deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine when the new commissioner is confirmed. Ostroff is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at IDFA’s Regulatory RoundUP, June 12-13 in Washington, D.C.

For more information, contact Clay Hough, IDFA senior group vice president and general counsel, at chough@idfa.org.