The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has received approval from the State Department to establish offices in China, the agency said Friday.
The FDA said it plans to open eight permanent offices at U.S. diplomatic posts in China in the next 18 months, pending authorization from the Chinese government. Along with placing FDA staff in the positions, the agency said it will hire five local Chinese nationals to work with staff at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and the U.S. Consulates General in Shanghai and Guangzhou.
"In an age when a border is not a barrier, the globalized economy demands nothing less than heightened regulatory interoperability, information exchange, and cooperation, especially on product quality and enforcement matters," said Dr. Murray M. Lumpkin, deputy commissioner for FDA's international programs, said in a statement.
The agency said the new offices will allow greater access for inspections and greater interactions with manufacturers to help assure that products meet U.S. standards for safety and manufacturing quality.
