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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will send the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration staff to China, India, Europe, and Latin America before the end of this year, Secretary Mike Leavitt has announced.

 

"Increasing our presence overseas will provide greater protections to American consumers at home and benefit our host countries as well," Secretary Leavitt said.

 

The first overseas office will be in China. The US government recently secured formal approval from the People's Republic of China. The first staff will be in place in Beijing this year, with additional staff to be posted in 2009.

 

Staff will be posted in Shanghai and Guangzhou next year. The department anticipates a total of eight U.S. nationals in China.

 

Secretary Leavitt is scheduled to travel to China in November to meet with Chinese health officials, and review mutual efforts to ensure the safety of food and medical products consumed by the two nations, particularly imported goods.

 

HHS/FDA plans on establishing its second overseas office in India, with staff posting to New Delhi in 2008 and at least one additional office to follow in 2009. Plans at present are for 10 U.S. nationals to be posted in India. The U.S. government is in the process of pursuing India's formal approval.

 

In both nations, personnel will work closely with local authorities, as well as industries that ship food and medical products to the United States, to improve safety efforts. Their activities will include providing technical advice, conducting additional inspections, and working with government agencies and private sector entities interested in developing certification programs.

 

HHS/FDA will also be opening overseas offices in Europe and Latin America before the end of 2008, with a fifth office in the Middle East to follow soon in early to mid-2009.

 

 

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