US, Europe, Australia to jointly inspect Indian and Chinese drug factories

The FDA is getting help with other countries to inspect drug factories in both China and India. This appears to be a coordinated move on the part of many and certainly can’t hurt as one could find something missed by another inspection. The FDA though still has the option to re-inspect any facility previously inspected as well. The FDA is in the process of opening up offices in China and will do the same in India. Pharmaceuticals are a global market, thus the importance of ensuring quality, as we all learned with the recent heparin stories as to what can happen when an economic decision impairs production. BD

Washington, July 10 (IANS) With countries like India and China making an increasing share of the active ingredients in medications, the US is joining Europe and Australia to inspect overseas factories. A pilot program announced Wednesday will allow regulators to coordinate their inspections and share information, thereby covering a wider territory and more foreign facilities.

Last year, the US imported more than $2 trillion-worth of products. Its biggest trading partners are now Canada, China, and Mexico, in that order. Chinese products made up about one-sixth of all US imports.