COVID-19 Supply Chain Update: Importation of Vital Food and Medical Products | FDA

COVID-19 Supply Chain Update: Importation of Vital Food and Medical Products | FDA

COVID-19 Supply Chain Update: Importation of Vital Food and Medical Products By: Judy McMeekin, Pharm. D., Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs The FDA continues to use all tools and flexibilities available to us as we partner with federal, state, and local agencies and public health officials across the country, to combat COVID-19. A critical part of the FDA’s work is ensuring the safety and security of the U.S. supply of food and medical products. Many of the medical products our health care workers and hospitals need to battle COVID-19 come from overseas, which makes the FDA’s Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) work imperative to ensure products are moving as quickly as possible through the ports of entry.

The FDA is facilitating the entry of imported personal protective equipment (PPE) and COVID-19 test kits as well as drugs and medical devices, that are needed to provide supportive care for sick and hospitalized patients. Many of these products are also critical for essential workers, such as grocery store employees, food manufacturers and caregivers, who also need PPE to safely perform their essential duties.

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