HHS Concludes Agreements with the People’s Republic of China on the Safety of Food and Drugs

December 11, 2007 – U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Michael O. Leavitt (left) and the Honorable Shao Mingli (right), Commissioner of China's State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA), sign a Memorandum of Agreement between HHS and SFDA on the safety of drugs and medical devices. (Photo by Wang Li Xia, U.S. Embassy, Beijing)

December 14, 2007 – On Dec. 11, 2007, on the margins of the third session under the United States-China Strategic Economic Dialogue, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Michael O. Leavitt and his counterparts from the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine (AQSIQ) and the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) of the People’s Republic of China signed Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) on the safety of food, feed, drugs and medical devices.

The first Agreement, which Secretary Leavitt signed with SFDA Commissioner Shao Mingli, is designed to enhance the safety of drugs, excipients and medical devices exported to the United States from China. The Honorable Li Changjiang, Minister of AQSIQ, joined Secretary Leavitt in signing the second Agreement, which aims to enhance the safety of food and feed imported into the United States from China

For more information:

• Agreement between the Department of Health and Human Services of the United States of America and the State Food and Drug Administration of the People's Republic of China on the Safety of Drugs and Medical Devices
• New Agreement Will Enhance the Safety of Drugs and Medical Devices Imported From the People’s Republic of China
• Agreement between the Department of Health and Human Services of the United States of America and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China on the Safety of Food and Feed
• New Agreement Will Enhance the Safety of Food and Feed Imported From the People’s Republic of China
• The Third U.S. - China Strategic Economic Dialogue, December 12 - 13, 2007, Beijing, Joint Fact Sheet (U.S. Department of Treasury)
• U.S. Fact Sheet: The Third Cabinet-Level Meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue, December 13, 2007, Beijing (U.S. Department of Treasury)
• Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr., Closing Statement, Meeting of the US-China Strategic Economic Dialogue (U.S. Department of Treasury)
• Statement by Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. at U.S. Delegation Press Conference at Closing of Strategic Economic Dialogue (U.S. Department of Treasury)
• U.S-China Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) (U.S. Department of Treasury)

Last revised: December 21, 2007