UPDATE 2-US FDA to add 1,300 staff in big expansion

(Adds lawmaker comment)

By Lisa Richwine

WASHINGTON, April 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration aims to hire more than 1,300 biologists, chemists, pharmacologists and other staff members by October as part of a major expansion, the agency said on Wednesday.

The hiring effort, first reported by Reuters, comes as the agency is under growing pressure from Congress to improve operations and existing staff is stretched thin.

The new hires will add to the current FDA work force of more than 10,000 employees who regulate food, drugs and other products that account for a quarter of U.S. consumer spending.

Some 770 of the jobs are new posts funded mainly by higher industry fees authorized last year in a broad FDA law meant to bolster drug safety oversight and other areas.

Another 547 additional hires will fill current vacancies, an FDA statement said.

Many of the new employees will work in the area of drug reviews and post-approval monitoring of side effects, said Kimberly Holden, assistant commissioner for operations.

Others will work on food and import safety and inspections.