Published on ShanghaiDaily.com (http://www.shanghaidaily.com/)
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200811/20081120/article_381343.htm
US FDA opens agency in China
Created: 2008-11-20 1:09:34
Author:Audra Ang
THE US Food and Drug Administration opened an office yesterday in Beijing - its first outside the United States - as part of a new global strategy to ensure the safety of trillions of dollars of imports.
The office in the Chinese capital will be followed by one in Shanghai and one in Guangzhou. FDA offices will also be opened in India, Latin America and Europe in coming months as the watchdog tries to globalize its presence to reassure consumers.
Over the past year, the FDA has been criticized for failing to prevent a string of problematic products from entering the US.
"In the past we have always been at our borders to try and catch things that were not safe or did not meet our standards," US Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the Beijing office. "In the future our new strategy is to build safety into products at every step of the way."
After meetings with Chinese officials on Tuesday, Leavitt said both countries would work on a joint initiative to use better technology for detecting contamination, demand greater corporate responsibility and increase sharing of data and information.
Health Minister Chen Zhu told reporters that Chinese quality officials will soon be stationed in the US.
In the past year, China has stepped up inspections and tightened restrictions on food production and other industries, after a series of global product scandals.
Shao Mingli, a vice health minister and head of the country's food and drug administration, said the opening of the FDA office "provides a very clear signal to the whole world."
"As food and drug regulatory agencies, our first priority is to protect public health and life," Shao said. "This is our top responsibility."
The office in the Chinese capital will be followed by one in Shanghai and one in Guangzhou. FDA offices will also be opened in India, Latin America and Europe in coming months as the watchdog tries to globalize its presence to reassure consumers.
Over the past year, the FDA has been criticized for failing to prevent a string of problematic products from entering the US.
"In the past we have always been at our borders to try and catch things that were not safe or did not meet our standards," US Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the Beijing office. "In the future our new strategy is to build safety into products at every step of the way."
After meetings with Chinese officials on Tuesday, Leavitt said both countries would work on a joint initiative to use better technology for detecting contamination, demand greater corporate responsibility and increase sharing of data and information.
Health Minister Chen Zhu told reporters that Chinese quality officials will soon be stationed in the US.
In the past year, China has stepped up inspections and tightened restrictions on food production and other industries, after a series of global product scandals.
Shao Mingli, a vice health minister and head of the country's food and drug administration, said the opening of the FDA office "provides a very clear signal to the whole world."
"As food and drug regulatory agencies, our first priority is to protect public health and life," Shao said. "This is our top responsibility."
Copyright © 2001-2009 Shanghai Daily Publishing House