WASHINGTON, Nov 18, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration opened three offices in China this week as part of an effort to
improve the safety of food imported from the Asian nation.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt and FDA Commissioner
Andrew von Eschenbach are traveling to the offices in Beijing, Guangzhou and
Shanghai to meet with manufacturers and Chinese government officials to discuss
policy and governance reforms.
"We're opening up a new era, not just new offices," Leavitt said in a statement
Tuesday. "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 that quality and safety are built into food and consumer
products at the point of manufacture."
The FDA also is working to establish a presence in India, Europe, Latin America
and the Middle East, the agency said.
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