Hyderabad, Jan. 8: The US decided to evolve a system of safeguards to ensure safety to its citizens as it imported food and health products, keeping in mind the future needs.

While helping the host countries to set up their own drug authorities on the lines of USFDA, the apex body that monitors, regulates and gives permissions for drugs, the US is also looking at working with drug manufacturers in those countires.

Mr Michael O. Leavitt, US Secretary of Health and Human Services, said that though the present system would do for the present demands, it was not adequate for the future to continue to offer safe health products to its people.

Mr Leavitt, who is leading a delegation to India, spoke to newspersons here on Tuesday, after visiting Bharat Biotech manufacturing facility at Shamirpet in the Genome Valley.

COMMON SAFETY NORMS
Citing the pact his country entered into with China, he siad the US was going to initiate talks with the Indian Government to help evolve common safety norms.

"We are here to build bridges to achieve common goals and evolving a system for future," he said.

He was accompanied by Mr Andrew C. von Eschenbach, Commissioner for USFDA.

Replying to a question, they said there was no plan to open a FDA office in India.