In a September 20th announcement, the Center for Veterinary Medicine of the Food and Drug Administration, announced the establishment of four Animal and Veterinary Innovation Centers. The areas of concentration that have been identified relate to the interface of animal and human health including: -
- Deletion or insertion of genes in animals relating to health or agricultural production with specific reference to regulatory issues.
- Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in the context of One Health together with other emerging zoonotic diseases.
- Opportunity areas for the diagnosis and control of animal diseases with the potential for public health challenges.
EGG-NEWS supports the transfer of responsibility for GM activities relating to food animals to to the USDA. FDA should not be involved with aspects of the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases. Research should be conducted at USDA facilities with appropriate personnel and facilities. The CDC is the obvious agency to monitor and develop countermeasures for zoonotic diseases with the NIAID of the NIH conducting basic and applied research.
Given that the FDA is incapable of successfully managing mandated activities involving regulation of pharmaceuticals and food, attempts at mission creep appear to be inappropriate