Comer celebrates increased FDA oversight of foreign manufacturing facilities

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer on Tuesday applauded the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its decision to increase its oversight of foreign manufacturing facilities.

The FDA on Tuesday announced it would conduct more unannounced inspections on foreign manufacturing facilities internationally that produce food and medicine that are intended for Americans than it has in previous years. 

The decision comes after a House report last year found the Biden administration's FDA gave Chinese manufacturing facilities advanced notice of impending inspections, which gave them time to prepare. The Chinese companies were also allowed to negotiate the date and time of the inspections.

Comer said the new decision would give foreign companies the same treatment as American manufacturers, who are not given advanced notice of inspections.

“Americans deserve safety, transparency, and accountability when it comes to the manufacturing of products they use every day," Comer said in a statement. "For years, FDA allowed foreign nations like China to dictate the terms and conditions of inspections the agency conducted abroad, giving these facilities advanced notice and ample time to prepare. 

"FDA’s announcement of holding foreign manufacturing facilities to the same, fair standards as domestic facilities is long overdue," he continued. "This will protect American consumers and prevent bad products from entering American homes. I commend FDA Commissioner [Marty] Makary for putting the safety of American people first."

The FDA conducts approximately 12,000 domestic inspections and 3,000 foreign inspections in more than 90 countries every year, the agency said.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.