Beijing (AP) The Food and Drug Administration will open three offices in China this week in an effort to improve the safety of exports headed to America.
The new FDA offices are the first outside of the United States. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt's office says they will increase effectiveness in protecting American and Chinese consumers.
Leavitt plans to attend two government workshops during his visit to Beijing. The sessions will address outbreaks of food-related illnesses in the U.S. related to fresh produce as well as melamine contamination in Chinese dairy products.
Safety issues involving the blood thinner heparin, food and other products imported from China has put pressure on the FDA to boost its international presence.
