Lactnetters: Here is information I received last month in an FDA email newsletter I subscribe to.....just in case anyone is questioning the integrity of the FDA. Especially read the last paragraph. (hmmm, could it be the release of this statement was planned to occur nicely timed just prior to the domperidone statement?). Sally Myer RN McCook NE USA **************************************************************************** ************ FDA Statement FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Statement May 18, 2004 Media Inquiries: 301-827-6242 Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA Statement by Dr. Lester M. Crawford, Acting FDA Commissioner, on Outside Activities of FDA Employees Like its sister agencies in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a public health agency. But FDA is unique in the Department because it is primarily a regulatory agency. As a result, for more than three decades FDA has had an aggressive disclosure and review process that is designed to ensure that its employees do not have any conflict of interest involving companies and entities that FDA "significantly regulates." To maintain the public trust in its public health work, FDA has placed reasonable restrictions on the financial and employment ties between FDA employees and the entities it regulates. Since 1970, review of FDA employees' requests to participate in outside activities has occurred within the FDA centers, at levels below that of the Center Director. I believe that this authority should be delegated to a higher level, so on May 6th I issued an interim policy on the approval of outside activities. Under this policy, FDA Center Directors must review and, if an activity is allowed, approve all outside activity requests. In light of recent questions about possible conflicts of interest involving HHS agencies, I have also directed a comprehensive review of all current outside activity requests from all FDA employees. Once that review has been completed, FDA will issue a final policy on the review and approval of outside activities. FDA's commitment to the highest ethical standards in its dealings with regulated entities remains constant. I am confident that the current review of FDA employees' outside activities will show that the nation is well served by the dedication of FDA's expert scientists and physicians and their demonstrated ability to conduct the public business fairly and impartially. This message has been checked for Viruses and Spam Content by McCookNet Internet Service Spam and Virus Filtering Service. See us on the web @ http://www.mccooknet.com http://www.mccooknet.com *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html