New Legislation to Boost FDA's Inspection and Enforcement Authority

On April 24, Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) introduced The Drug and Device Accountability Act of 2009, which would give the FDA more resources for conducting foreign drug plant inspections and the power to issue subpoenas.

The bill would augment the FDA’s resources through the collection of inspection fees, which would be used for more foreign drug plant inspections. It also requires individuals responsible for submitting drug and device applications to certify that the submissions are not false or misleading and comply with applicable regulations. Civil and criminal penalties could be imposed for false or misleading certifications.

“An increasing number of drugs and ingredients for pharmaceuticals are being manufactured in other countries, yet studies show the FDA doesn't know how many foreign plants are subject to inspection, and the FDA conducts relatively few foreign inspections each year,” Grassley said in floor statement about the bill. “Our legislation is a practical solution to beefing up the FDA's inspection work, both domestically and abroad, and holding the FDA accountable for its review of medical devices, where questions have been raised about the agency's work,” he added.

The FDA has been chastised for its lack of inspections of foreign plants after failing to stop shipments of contaminated heparin from China, which led to allergic reactions, deaths, and a subsequent recall in 2008. The new bill is similar to the legislation introduced last year by Grassley and Kennedy and would expand the FDA’s inspection and enforcement authority.

View Grassley’s full floor statement detailing the need for this legislation.http://grassley.senate.gov/news/Article.cfm?customel_dataPageID_1502=20314

View BioPharm International’s coverage of the heparin incident.http://biopharminternational.findpharma.com/biopharm/News/Heparin-Contamination-More-Widespread-than-First-T/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/511693