FDA opens first offices in China
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
U.S. agency opens offices in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai, China, the week of Nov. 17 in a move approved by the U.S. State Department in March (1"The Gray Sheet" June 23, 2008, p. 5). The eight senior staffers selected to work there are inspectors and senior technical experts in foods, medicines and medical devices, HHS notes. "By having a presence in other parts of the world, we can work more closely with manufacturers and other governments, better share best practices and further ensure ... quality and safety," stated HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt, who along with FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach traveled to the three cities last week to meet with manufacturers and Chinese government officials to discuss policy and governance reforms aimed at improving the safety of food and medical products. HHS also is working to have an FDA presence in India, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East