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Welcome to Andy's Take. I'm Susan Winckler, FDA's Chief of Staff, and I am pleased to bring you this week's edition.
In a typical week, you may hear many news reports that mention the FDA. Those reports provide a brief snapshot of FDA work on your behalf.
My Take is that depending on your interest, you may only have seen one of those many snapshots this week—or many reports about just one topic. And those reports might not have explained where FDA was in our decision-making process. Here's a recap of some of our work this week, where we were listening, clarifying, leading, educating, and taking action, as we assess the science about the food and medical products you use on a daily basis.
FDA was in "listening" mode this week when a subcommittee of our Science Board heard from the public on the use of Bisphenol A – also known as BPA - in food contact applications, like plastic bottles.
FDA was in a "clarifying" mode this week as we issued our proposal – what we call a draft guidance - on regulating genetically engineered animals. Our veterinary experts clarified an approach that will carefully and closely oversee the potential promise of the technology - such as providing a new source of medicines or developing animals that will result in a smaller environmental impact.
In an "educating" mode, the leader of our device experts testified before Congress about the differences between regulating prescription drug advertising and medical device advertising.
And in "action" mode, our drug experts took action against products that weren't made according to our requirements—stopping those products from coming into our country until the company complies with our rules. We took this action before we saw any problems in the performance of the drugs. Our biological experts acted by approving expanded uses for a vaccine to help prevent certain cancers.
Far beyond these snapshots, our staff was working on many other issues important to you. So if your concern wasn't addressed this week in the public, it's highly likely we were working on it at the agency. Continue to visit our web site at FDA.gov to learn about the many things that the agency is doing each and every week on your behalf.
Check back here again next week for Andy's Take.
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