In a narrow vote, the US Food and Drug Administration gets its first permanent head in more than a year
The U.S. Senate on Tuesday voted to confirm Robert Califf as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in a 50-46 vote. Six Republicans voted for his confirmation while five Democrats opposed him.
The FDA has not had a permanent commissioner for more than a year.
Califf is a cardiologist who served as FDA commissioner during the Obama administration, from February 2016 to January 2017. He has previously served as deputy commissioner for the FDA’s Office of Medical Products and Tobacco and as head of medical strategy at Google parent Alphabet Inc.
In a statement, Constance Cullman, president and CEO of the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) commended the Senate for the confirmation.
“We congratulate Dr. Califf for being confirmed to serve as head of the FDA, an agency that has been pivotal in the timely and safe review of drugs and vaccines to end the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure a safe, stable food supply,” she said. “Our industry has been grappling with regulations that have not kept pace with modern science on animal nutrition, sidelining innovative feed ingredients that could help livestock fully reach their genetic potential and America to achieve its climate goals. This issue is starting to draw the ire of lawmakers, as it has put U.S. animal food products at a competitive disadvantage globally, and we hope is one in which we can work together with Dr. Califf and his staff.”
