"FDA will open an outpost in China this year" by Associated Press | October 17, 2008
WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration will establish its first office in China before the end of the year as part of a broader plan to assure the safety of imports from the developing world.
FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach laid out a plan yesterday to place more than 60 food and drug regulators worldwide over the next year, with a particular focus on India, Latin America, and the Middle East.
FDA officials said the plan would cost about $30 million in its first year, primarily to set up the offices and hire new staffers. Leavitt and von Eschenbach hoped manufacturers would voluntarily pay for inspections by independent parties to verify that their plants meet US standards. Attempts to establish similar programs in the United States have had limited success, as many companies balk at paying for their own regulation. --more--"
Uh, DUH!!!!! WTF?
So now the TAXPAYER once again has to foot the bill?
