FDA’s Mexico office tackles product safety

FDAÆs Mexico office tackles product safety    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has opened an office in Mexico City to help ensure the safety of food and medical products entering the United States from Mexico.
   'The opening of this office represents an important step as we redesign our product safety strategy,' said FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, in a statement. 'We, like our partners in the Mexican government, realize that prevention is the key.'
   She noted that more than one-third of fresh fruits and vegetable imports in the United States come from Mexico, as do a large amount of medical devices. 'Having FDA experts located permanently there will be mutually beneficial to both our countries and respective citizens,' Hamburg said.
   This is the agency's third post in Latin America. The FDA also has offices in Santiago, Chile, and San Jose, Costa Rica.
   FDA staff assigned to the Mexico City post will work with their Mexican government counterparts to harmonize regulations and guidance standards and on other collaborative initiatives, such as data sharing and joint training on food-borne illnesses.
   'FDA experts in Mexico City will work closely with local industries that ship food and medical products to the United States to improve their understanding of U.S. safety and product quality expectations,' said Murray M. Lumpkin, FDA commissioner of international programs. 'Their activities will include providing technical advice and working with government agencies and the private sector to develop certification programs.'
   In addition to the three Latin American offices, FDA has opened seven other offices across China, India and Europe during the past 13 months.