India Adds Spice To U.S. Life, Keeps It Healthy
Ross describes FDA's India office as a portal through which safety information on food and drugs flows back and forth among FDA, the Indian government and industry.
"Either we provide answers to their questions or we link them to the right people who can," he said.
FDA's India office also shares information gleaned from facility inspections with Indian officials so they can take action to improve product safety and quality.
FDA responds to requests from the Indian government to train representatives from industry, agriculture and commerce in agricultural and manufacturing standards and practices used in the U.S. "It's a very pro-active way for us to ensure products imported to the states are safe and meet our standards for quality," Ross said.
For example, FDA - working with India's drug regulators - engaged in training that focused on good clinical practices. This training facilitated and supported the development of an Indian-specific programme for the inspection and monitoring of clinical research sites, FDA said.
