(HHS: Washington) -- Last year, the United States imported more than $2 trillion worth of products, from roughly 825,000 importers, through more than 300 ports of entry. All projections indicate that this volume will continue to rise sharply over the coming years as the scale and complexity of international trade multiplies. As a key part of the Import Safety Action Plan to enhance product safety, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will send the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) staff to China, India, Europe, and Latin America before the end of 2008.

“We’re making steady progress to better safeguard our supply of food and medicines, although much work remains,” says Mike Leavitt, secretary of HHS. “In the past year, we’ve upgraded labs and equipment, hired additional staff, and begun implementing product safety agreements with key trading partners.”

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