VOA常速英语2007年-FDA Report Says Agency Cannot Do Its Job

By Carol Pearson
Washington
05 December 2007
 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates most of the food sold in the United States, as well as all drugs, human vaccines¹ and medical devices. Many countries look to the FDA for guidance on food and medicine. Yet a new report from the FDA's own advisers² says the agency is failing at its job. VOA's Carol Pearson has more.

The report says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is understaffed and underfunded. For years, critics have said the agency is failing. But now, for the first time, the agency admits it is failing and that American lives are at risk. The report also says there are so few inspectors³ that the agency is unable to protect the nation's food supply.

Bill Hubbard once held a high position at the FDA. He recalls, "When I came to the FDA in the early 1970s, we were doing 35,000 food inspections⁴ a year. This year, the agency will be doing 6,000."

The agency's computer system tracks hazardous⁵ foods and drugs. The report says the system is antiquated⁶.

"Imagine having an e-mail system that is so old they have to bring technicians out of retirement⁷ because current technicians have never seen equipment that old," said Hubbard.

The report says that many employees do not have computers. Inspectors still write urgent reports by hand that often get lost. Without proper technology, the agency cannot keep up with developments in new technologies or track the possible side effects of drugs or procedures.

The report says the world of drug discovery and development has changed dramatically, but the FDA's evaluation⁸ methods are about the same as they were 50 years ago

The report places the blame on Congress for consistently cutting the agency's budget, while asking it to assume additional responsibilities. Representative Rosa DeLauro puts the blame back on the FDA. She says, "I, for one, am not going to provide funds to an agency that has no management structure in place, doesn't have any idea of how to utilize⁹ the funds that the Congress is providing to them."

But the report says the Food and Drug Administration cannot improve its science, prepare for the future or protect American consumers without significant additional funding.

1 vaccines   

疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。
• The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

2 advisers   

顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• a member of the President's favoured circle of advisers 总统宠爱的顾问班子中的一员
• She withdrew to confer with her advisers before announcing a decision. 她先去请教顾问然后再宣布决定。

3 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 inspections   

n.检查( inspection的名词复数 )；检验；视察；检阅

参考例句：

• Regular inspections are carried out at the prison. 经常有人来视察这座监狱。
• Government inspections ensure a high degree of uniformity in the standard of service. 政府检查确保了在服务标准方面的高度一致。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 hazardous   

adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的

参考例句：

• These conditions are very hazardous for shipping.这些情况对航海非常不利。
• Everybody said that it was a hazardous investment.大家都说那是一次危险的投资。

6 antiquated   

adj.陈旧的，过时的

参考例句：

• Many factories are so antiquated they are not worth saving.很多工厂过于陈旧落后，已不值得挽救。
• A train of antiquated coaches was waiting for us at the siding.一列陈旧的火车在侧线上等着我们。

7 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

8 evaluation   

n.估价，评价；赋值

参考例句：

• I attempted an honest evaluation of my own life.我试图如实地评价我自己的一生。
• The new scheme is still under evaluation.新方案还在评估阶段。

9 utilize   

vt.使用，利用

参考例句：

• The cook will utilize the leftover ham bone to make soup.厨师要用吃剩的猪腿骨做汤。
• You must utilize all available resources.你必须利用一切可以得到的资源。