FDA Strategic Priorities Provide Opportunities for Proactive Compliance
11-15-2010
By Mike Rozembajgier
The FDA accepted comments last month on a draft version of its strategic priorities for the next four years. Although these priorities are still subject to change, companies involved in every part of the food and drug supply chain can find in them opportunities to get ahead of the regulators and set the gold standard for compliance and consumer safety.
As outlined in the draft document, the FDA’s strategic priorities for the next four years include:
- Advance regulatory science and innovation
- Strengthen the safety and integrity of the global supply chain
- Strengthen compliance and enforcement activities to support public health
- Expand efforts to meet the needs of special populations.
It should come as no surprise that the FDA wants to make the global supply chain safer and increase enforcement activities to protect public health, but the fact that together these two account for half the agencies proposed priorities should remind manufacturers, growers, processors, distributors, and retailers of the importance of consumer safety. We can expect to see the trend of the past several months toward tighter enforcement and a renewed focus on supply chain regulation continue in years to come.
No company can afford to be caught flat-footed in today’s rapidly evolving regulatory landscape. It is no longer enough to simply state your commitment to safety; every company must proactively investigate any potential dangers and take action against any suppliers that present a liability. Effective tracking methods and safety precautions across the board are critical to ensuring food and drug safety and minimizing the risk of a recall.
Putting these precautions in place before regulators mandate them will not only protect companies against costly investigations and even fines, but it also can go a long way toward protecting a company’s reputation and building consumer loyalty.
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[...] the most groundbreaking provision is one that gives the FDA the power to mandate pharmaceutical recalls. The provision would give the FDA mandatory recall power over [...]
