FDA begins consumer transparency initiative

The Food and Drug Administration has unveiled the first phase of its transparency initiative, designed to make its drug approval and decision-making processes more transparent to consumers.

A Transparency Task Force will undertake a three-pronged initiative that starts this month with “FDA Basics”.

This aims to release detailed information on the US regulator’s processes via a variety of media, including blogs, public meetings, short online videos, and open-office policies to allow the public access to FDA personnel.

The second initiative will see the Task Force make a series recommendations to FDA Commissioner Dr Margaret Hamburg about how to make information on agency activities more transparent and public-friendly.

In the third and final phase the Task Force will request greater transparency to the Commissioner regarding the FDA’s workings within the regulated industries.

“This initiative will make information about the FDA more user-friendly and accessible to the public,” commented Dr Hamburg. “It fosters a better understanding about what we do.”

More information on the FDA’s transparency initiative can be found here.