Two offices of the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have been established in New Delhi and Mumbai, India. The FDA said on Thursday that these offices are part of a new initiative to ensure safety and quality of drugs and food products exported from India to the United States.

Through these offices, 10 officials appointed by FDA in India will work with industries that export food and medical products to the US, providing technical advice and conducting inspections of production facilities that export to the US.

Andrew C. von Eschenbach, the FDA commissioner said that its officers will help industries build good manufacturing processes to ensure safety and quality of products. The goal is to "build quality in (into the manufacturing processes) rather than inspect defects out."

Leavitt said "If called upon, we are also prepared to work with the Indian government as it strengthens its own regulatory institutions".

The main aim of FDA's Beyond Our Borders Initiative is to expand consumer-protection efforts beyond the United States to form collaborative partnerships with governments and industry on product safety.

Under this Initiative 35 personnel will be place in 14 locations around the world, mostly connected to U. S. embassies, consulates and missions.