FDA To Open Office In
San José
The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA)
will open an Health office in
Costa Rica on Wednesday
according to the US
Embassy in San José.
The office will be
inaugurated by Michale
Leavitt, U.S. Department
of Health and Human
Services Secretary,
Andrew C. von Eschenbach,
acting FDA commissioner,
US ambassador to Costa
Rica, Peter Cianchette
and Costa Rican ministra
de Salud, María Luisa
Avila.
Leavitt is also expected
to meet with Costa Rican
president Oscar Arias at
Casa Presidencial on
Wednesday before the
opening ceremonies and
to take part in a round
table discussion on
product food drug safety
and medical instruments
between the US an the
region.
The FDA has opened
offices in China, India,
Europe and Latin America
before the end of 2008.
“We’re making steady
progress to better
safeguard our supply of
food and medicines,
though much work
remains,” Secretary
Leavitt said. “In the
past year, we’ve
upgraded labs and
equipment, hired
additional staff, and
begun implementing
product safety
agreements with key
trading partners,
including China.
“Increasing our presence
overseas will provide
greater protections to
American consumers at
home and benefit our
host countries as well,”
Secretary Leavitt added.
“Opening these offices
will mark a key
milestone in the
globalization of our
efforts to enhance the
safety of imported food
and medical products.”
FDA officials are also
working to conclude
Memoranda of
Understanding with
Belize, the Dominican
Republic, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Honduras,
Mexico, Nicaragua and
Panama to work together
on product safety. Their
collaborations could
include
information-sharing on
their respective
regulatory systems and
joint workshops and
training on the safety
of food and medical
products. The parties
will also make efforts
to find opportunities
for joint training for
food-borne illnesses and
the oversight of food
traded internationally.
Last year, the United
States imported more
than us$2 trillion worth
of products, from
roughly 825,000
importers, through over
300 Ports–of-Entry. All
projections indicate
this volume will
continue to rise sharply
over the coming years as
the scale and complexity
of international trade
multiplies. |
