The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could be granted greater powers to oversee the pharmaceutical supply chain, following the introduction of a bill from Colorado Senator Michael Bennett.

The Drug Safety and Accountability Act 2010 would give the FDA authority to recall potentially dangerous drugs and assess civil penalties for violations of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, with the aim of strengthening quality standards.

The FDA would also be able to subpoena witnesses and documents.

The act follows a record 1,742 drug recalls in 2009, the majority related to manufacturing issues.