US FDA Commissioner pledges more aggressive action

The US Food and Drug Administration's Commissioner, Margaret Hamburg, has pledged to warn companies more quickly about problems revealed during inspections and act more aggressively in serious cases. Among other things, this will mean that warning letters and enforcement actions occur in a timely manner and that steps are taken to protect consumers in cases where immediate enforcement action is not possible, she told a Food and Drug Law Institute meeting on August 6 in Washington DC.

In what was her first presentation to the FDLI as Commissioner, she said: 'in my first weeks on the job, I have been especially impressed by FDA's career staff. I have met scores of public servants in our agency's headquarters and field offices who are subject matter experts'committed to their work'and devoted to advancing the health of our country.'

Dr Hamburg stressed the need for a strong FDA has credibility with the public, which is transparent in explaining its decisions; and a strong FDA which pursues creative solutions to longstanding problems and is always looking for novel ways to prevent illness and promote health.