MONDAY, June 20 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced a new strategy to ensure the safety and quality of drug and food products imported from other countries. The new strategy is outlined in a special report, "Pathway to Global Product Safety and Quality."
The new strategy is a response to the rapid rise in imports of FDA-regulated products and the complex global supply chain. It builds on changes previously made by the FDA and includes four key objectives: creating international coalitions of regulators to improve and guarantee product quality and safety; developing international information systems and networks to boost the sharing of data and regulatory resources; improving the agency's information gathering and analysis capabilities; and increasing the agency's cooperation with industry and public and private groups.
The agency is also expanding its food-safety efforts under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, including new inspection mandates.
"FDA-regulated imports have quadrupled since 2000," Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., Commissioner of Food and Drugs, said in a statement. "The FDA and our global regulatory partners recognize this new reality and realize we must work proactively and collaboratively to address the challenges we face."
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