FDA Issues Draft Proposals on Transparency

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a report as part of a transparency initiative offering eight draft proposals “to make FDA’s publicly available compliance and enforcement data more accessible and user-friendly.” Based on public comments, an initiative task force will recommend specific draft proposals for FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg to consider by January 31, 2012.

In particular, the report recommends that FDA explore (i) “different ways to improve data quality and facilitate more timely data disclosure,” (ii) “how to present its compliance and enforcement data graphically and better utilize mobile web applications,” (iii) “whether posting additional data compilations or analysis… would increase transparency,” and (iv) “ways to better utilize social media.” FDA requests comments by December 2, 2011. See Federal Register, October 4, 2011.