White House Reorganization Proposal -- Good News/Bad News

Yesterday’s White House reorganization proposal may be a good news/ bad news story. In the abstract, it may make sense to have a single Food Safety Agency within USDA. The potential drawbacks, however, could compound regulatory confusion more than resolve it. "We’ll be monitoring the issue," said Nick Herrmann, GIC Director of Business Development, “but our biggest concern is the impact—short and longer term—on the global supply chain.” These concerns plus Congressional oversight considerations were raised before when the Obama Administration floated the idea of a separate Food Safety Agency, only within FDA, not USDA. This time around, there may be even less traction for the idea.