China has become the world’s largest producer and exporter of “active pharmaceutical ingredients,” the base components drug companies use to manufacture most of the medications we rely on. China’s dominance puts both the health of Americans and our national security at risk.from the U.S.
The situation is a prescription for disaster, and U.S. consumers, as well as many government officials, are woefully ignorant of the situation. People often have no idea the medications they rely on are made from Chinese components, since manufacturers only have to say where a finished drug was produced.
We also need to understand exactly what the FDA can and can’t do to guarantee the safety of precursor imports from China. The FDA deploys some inspectors in China, but it’s generally agreed there are far too few to monitor the large number of producers. Once Congress understands the situation, it should take steps to grant whatever new authority is necessary to the FDA and other agencies to better protect the quality and quantity of medicines necessary for the health of Americans.
opinion Ever since they put poison in the baby milk I have never trusted Chinese 'ingredients'. I don't even know what they spray on clothing that makes it smell so bad.