Fda S Foreign Drug Inspection Program

The FDA oversees the safety and effectiveness of human drugs marketed in the U.S., including those manufactured in foreign establishments. FDA inspects foreign establishments in order to ensure that the quality of drugs is not jeopardized by poor manufacturing processes. This report examines: (1) the extent to which FDA has accurate data on the number of foreign establishments subject to inspection; (2) the frequency of foreign inspections; and (3) oversight by FDA to ensure that foreign establishments correct serious problems identified during inspections. The author analyzed info. from FDA databases, reviewed inspection reports which identified serious deficiencies, and interviewed FDA officials. Includes recommendations. Illus.

The FDA is responsible for overseeing the safety and effectiveness of human drugs that are marketed in the U.S., whether they are manufactured in foreign or domestic estab. FDA inspects foreign estab. to ensure that they meet the same standards required of domestic estab. Ongoing concerns regarding FDA¿s foreign drug inspection program recently were heightened when FDA learned that contaminated doses of a common blood thinner had been manufactured at a Chinese estab. that the agency had never inspected. FDA has announced initiatives to improve its foreign drug inspection program. This statement presents preliminary findings on how FDA¿s initiatives address the weaknesses that have been identified. Illustrations.

Globalization has complicated FDA's oversight of drugs marketed in the United States. FDA reports that more than 40 percent of finished drugs and 80 percent of active pharmaceutical ingredients are produced overseas. FDA inspects drug manufacturing establishments to ensure that the safety and quality of drugs are not jeopardized by poor manufacturing practices. Beginning in 2008, FDA established foreign offices to obtain better information on products coming from overseas and perform inspections, among other things. In 2008 and 2010, GAO examined FDA's foreign drug inspection program and recommended it conduct more foreign inspections. In another 2010 report, GAO recommended the agency develop strategic and workforce plans for its foreign offices. GAO was asked to update its work with a focus on FDA's oversight of foreign drug establishments. This study examines (1) enhancements FDA has made to its foreign drug inspection program; and (2) FDA's assessment of its foreign offices, and the challenges they face in ensuring drug safety. GAO analyzed FDA's inspection data from fiscal year 2007 through June 30, 2016; reviewed agency planning documents; and interviewed FDA officials, including former foreign office employees.

Examines FDA's efforts to: prepare inspection reports & take enforcement actions against foreign pharmaceutical manufacturers in a timely manner; improve the consistency with which FDA evaluates the results of foreign inspections & conducts reinspections to verify that foreign pharmaceutical manufacturers have corrected serious deficiencies; conduct routine inspections of foreign pharmaceutical manufacturers to monitor their compliance with U.S. quality standards; & improve the management of data needed for planning inspection, monitoring inspection results, & taking enforcement actions. Charts & tables.

" Globalization has complicated FDA's oversight of drugs marketed in the United States. FDA reports that more than 40 percent of finished drugs and 80 percent of active pharmaceutical ingredients are produced overseas. FDA inspects drug manufacturing establishments to ensure that the safety and quality of drugs are not jeopardized by poor manufacturing practices. Beginning in 2008, FDA established foreign offices to obtain better information on products coming from overseas and perform inspections, among other things. In 2008 and 2010, GAO examined FDA's foreign drug inspection program and recommended it conduct more foreign inspections. In another 2010 report, GAO recommended the agency develop strategic and workforce plans for its foreign offices. GAO was asked to update its work with a focus on FDA's oversight of foreign drug establishments. This study examines (1) enhancements FDA has made to its foreign drug inspection program; and (2) FDA's assessment of its foreign offices, and the challenges they face in ensuring drug safety. GAO analyzed FDA's inspection data from fiscal year 2007 through June 30, 2016; reviewed agency planning documents; and interviewed FDA officials, including former foreign office employees. "