Life of Guangzhou - FDA Guangzhou Office Unveiled

The U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt (1st from left) and FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach (2nd from left) cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony of the FDA Guangzhou office, on November 20, 2008. (lifeofguangzhou.com)

Guangzhou, Nov. 21 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) opened its Guangzhou office at Shamian Island Thursday (November 20, 2008), to better ensure the quality and safety of the exports from China to the U.S..

Its first oversea office was set up in Beijing on Nov. 19, and the other one in Shanghai will be opened on Nov. 21.

The FDA will open offices around the world, including two in India next month, and one in Latin America in January 2009, to change the market presence globally.

“We are here not just to open an office, but to build a new area to cooperate. Both for America and Chinese governments, our common goals are protecting health of our citizens.” The U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said at the opening ceremony.

“The U.S. imported goods worthy of 2 trillion dollars this year from other counties. The amount of goods we imported from China now is five times more than ten years before. Among every six dollars of products we imported, there is one dollar from China. So it is our opportunity to work together with Chinese government, to create standards together, and improve process together with brands in China.” said Secretary Michael Leavitt.

“Three staff will be stationed in FDA Guangzhou office.” Christopher Hickey, the FDA's country director said “They are two Americans with more than thirty-year experience in FDA and one from China.”

As to some delegates from Chinese companies mentioned that some Chinese exports have to be inspected in the US for two months, Andrew von Eschenbach, FDA Commissioner responded “Borders are not barriers to Chinese exporters. We hope the benefits of FDA office in Guangzhou can help faster the inspections, and better understand the process of imported products.”

When talked about why FDA opened the first oversea office in China, and anything related to the milk contamination scandal, Secretary Leavitt replied “We planned these offices in China several years ago, and we respect Chinese government’s rapid reaction to the contaminated milk issue.”

(Reported by Zhu Yanshan)

FDA staff in China pose with staff of State Food and Drug Administration in China. (Lifeofguangzhou.com)

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