US FDA chief, Anand Sharma discuss quality control violations

Anand-SharmaNew Delhi, Feb 11 : U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Margaret Hamburg Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma here, and the two are reported to have discussed concerns over the rise in sub-standard foods and drugs entering the United States.

Hamburg's visit, planned for February 10-18, comes less than two weeks after the FDA banned products from a fourth facility owned by Indian drugmaker Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited due to manufacturing violations, effectively shutting the company out of the U. S. market for the foreseeable future.

India is the second-largest exporter of drugs to the United States after Canada and the eighth-largest food exporter. Indian companies supply 40 percent of all drugs consumed in the United States, yet quality control problems have been rampant.

Hamburg said the purpose of her visit is to "connect with my counterparts in the regulatory agencies as well as have a chance to talk with industry leaders who are important stakeholders in terms of our activities."

She would visit Delhi, Mumbai and Cochin, where she will attend the World Spice Congress which runs from February 16-19. She will also visit a seafood processing facility and a spices facility.

India accounted for 16 percent of U. S. spice imports by value in 2010 according to a recent FDA report, more than any other country. However, spice imports have been a source of food contamination.

In October the FDA released figures showing that nearly 7 percent of all spice imports examined between 2007 and 2009 were contaminated with salmonella, while 12 percent of imported spices were contaminated with insects, hair and other filth. Mexico and India accounted for the highest percentage of contaminated shipments.

Hamburg said she wants to build both professional relationships with her counterparts "and build the personal bonds as well."

She said she will not be visiting individual drug companies, but will have a round-table discussion with drug company chief executives. Part of the discussion will focus on quality control.

In December, Jubilant Life Sciences Limited received a warning letter from the FDA over manufacturing practices at one of its U. S. facilities. In November the FDA effectively banned products from a second plant operated by Wockhardt Ltd. (ANI)