HHS opens new FDA offices in New Delhi, Mumbai

ROCKVILLE, Md. The Department of Health and Human Services has opened the new Food and Drug Administration offices in New Delhi and Mumbai, India, HHS announced Thursday.

"Through these offices, we can work more closely with manufacturers to share best practices and ensure producers build quality and safety into food and medical products," HHS secretary Mike Leavitt said in a statement. "Consumers in India and the United States will benefit from the enhanced safety of food, drugs and medical devices."

The department will post 10 officials in India to work with industries that ship food and medical products to the United States.

The FDA recently opened offices in China and plans to open similar offices in other parts of the world, including the Middle East and Latin America.