The Food and Drug Administration has decided to take an important step when it comes to consumer safety. Thus, three offices will be opened in China this week. The FDA is taking measures to ensure the quality and safety of the products exported to the United States, after a period when several incidents happened. This move is novelty for the FDA, as the Administration has never opened an office outside the country. FDA officials are sure that opening offices in a country whose exports pose a threat to people’s health will have a positive effect on the FDA overall, as this action will improve their efficiency.

On Wednesday, in Beijing, the first office will be opened, by the office Secretary of U.S. Health and Human Services, Mike Leavitt and the Food and Drug Commissioner of the FDA, Andrew von Eschenbach. Guangzhou is the next city to host an FDA office, and Shanghai is the last city where the FDA will open an office.

Leavitt is sure that opening these offices, which will function on a permanent basis, will improve the effectiveness with which the FDA works to protect the health of people from both the United States and China.

Lately, there have been problems with blood thinner heparin, food – like the milk which was discovered to contain worrisome amounts of melamine, and other types of products, such as cribs, accessories for the popular Barbie doll or toy cars. The FDA was faced with a situation where additional international action from their part was of crucial importance.