US Pharm. 2008;33(5):69.

The FDA has received approval from the U.S. State Department to establish eight full-time permanent FDA positions at U.S. diplomatic posts in the People's Republic of China, pending approval from the Chinese government. The agency plans to place FDA staff in China over the next 18 months as part of its "Beyond our Borders" program, which is designed to build stronger cooperative relationships between the FDA's counterpart agencies around the world. The new FDA office in China will allow greater access for inspections and help ensure that drug products shipped to the U.S. meet safety and manufacturing standards.

In addition, the FDA will be hiring a total of five local Chinese nationals to work with the new FDA staff at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and the U.S. Consulates General in Shanghai and Guangzhou.

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