Comments on: Public Safety in Ruins http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2008/12/public_health_i.html The Law, the Universe, and Everything Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:44:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jardinero1 http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2008/12/public_health_i.html/comment-page-1#comment-45381 Jardinero1 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:22:47 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2008/12/public-safety-in-ruins.html#comment-45381 Yes, let's call the Bushies anti-regulatory and anti-government. I would not characterize the PATRIOT Act, the war on drugs, the restriction of civil liberties and the unnecessary wars in the mid-east and south asia as anti-regulatory or anti-government. Quite the contrary. What you mean to say is that the Bushies are not suffiently pro-regulatory and pro-government to suit your own tastes in areas which concern you. I was unaware that the FDA has any statutory authority in China. Is that even possible or practical? Do we need more regulations? To deal with the Chinese? Are the regulations we have sufficient? What responsibility do the domestic importers and distributors bear? According to the New York Times story you cited: "Companies that import Chinese pharmaceutical ingredients, including aspirin, are required to test the supplies before using them, and some send private inspectors to China to ensure that suppliers use adequate controls." Perhaps the FDA's budget would be better spent inspecting and prosecuting the domestic importers and distributors of the tainted products. Did they bother to inspect those factories or take someone else's word for it? Yes, let’s call the Bushies anti-regulatory and anti-government. I would not characterize the PATRIOT Act, the war on drugs, the restriction of civil liberties and the unnecessary wars in the mid-east and south asia as anti-regulatory or anti-government. Quite the contrary. What you mean to say is that the Bushies are not suffiently pro-regulatory and pro-government to suit your own tastes in areas which concern you.

I was unaware that the FDA has any statutory authority in China. Is that even possible or practical? Do we need more regulations? To deal with the Chinese? Are the regulations we have sufficient?

What responsibility do the domestic importers and distributors bear? According to the New York Times story you cited: “Companies that import Chinese pharmaceutical ingredients, including aspirin, are required to test the supplies before using them, and some send private inspectors to China to ensure that suppliers use adequate controls.” Perhaps the FDA’s budget would be better spent inspecting and prosecuting the domestic importers and distributors of the tainted products. Did they bother to inspect those factories or take someone else’s word for it?

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