Panel Wants Government regulatory Agency gutted by Right Wing To Be Restored so as to Protect the Public

The Food and Drug Administration would be empowered to order mandatory recalls of products deemed a risk to consumers under recommendations from an advisory commission created in response to concerns about recalls of dangerous toothpaste, dog food and toys.

Bush was to receive the recommendations Tuesday from the panel, which was established in July to study import safety. It was led by Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt.

The panel also will urge increasing the presence of U.S. inspectors from Customs, the Border Patrol, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and other agencies in countries that are major exporters to the United States, an administration official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the recommendations had not been released publicly.