Given that I first wrote about this many moons ago, I was starting to wonder whether this was ever really going to happen. There was such a huge push to put FDA inspectors on the ground here after the food and drug scares of 2007 that I thought maybe it was being fast-tracked.

I'm so innocent. These are two governments trying to agree on setting up a new office in the other's country. It'll probably take another five years.

I do find it ironic (and amusing), however, that the headline I received on this, via the WSJ, was truncated as the following:

FDA Expects to Open China Offices in '08

Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said three Food and Drug Administration offices should open in China this year to help ensure the safety of products destined for the U.S.

"We are continuing …

I am continuing to wait as well. I assume in the meantime that the US government is shuttling inspectors back and forth to look at facilities, but given the lack of resources at the FDA, they are probably forced to swim here to save on the airfare.