FDA Transparency Plan Addresses Food Safety Inspections, Recalls

(CIDRAP – Lisa Schnirring)

As part of a push for more government transparency, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)… released a draft report detailing 21 steps it could take to share more information, such as providing fuller explanations of its decisions and posting more inspection reports.

Most of the proposals in the 65-page report apply to drugs and devices that the FDA regulates, but some measures address food safety issues such as import evaluations, facility inspections, and product recalls.

The proposals reflect President Barack Obama's goal of creating more openness in government and are part of a transparency initiative launched by Dr Margaret Hamburg when she stepped into her new role as FDA commissioner in June 2009.