FDA to open office in India

KOCHI The Food and Drug Administration is planning on opening an office of its agency in India, in an effort to ensure the quality of the food and drugs being imported by the U.S., according to published reports.

Health and Human Service secretary Michael Leavitt and FDA commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach are in the country presently assessing the manufacturing practices existing at drug and food processing units.

According to Leavitt, he set up the mission because, “there was a serious apprehension among the consumers in this country on the quality of food and drugs being imported.” “We are trying to ensure the quality in the entire system of supply chain, right from the seed to the last outlet from where people buy the goods,” he said.

The U.S. imports about $56 million worth of food and drug products from India.