Statement by Dr. Lester M. Crawford, Acting FDA Commissioner, on Outside Activities of FDA Employees

Like its sister agencies in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a public health agency. But FDA is unique in the Department because it is primarily a regulatory agency.

As a result, for more than three decades FDA has had an aggressive disclosure and review process that is designed to ensure that its employees do not have any conflict of interest involving companies and entities that FDA "significantly regulates."

To maintain the public trust in its public health work, FDA has placed reasonable restrictions on the financial and employment ties between FDA employees and the entities it regulates.

Since 1970, review of FDA employees' requests to participate in outside activities has occurred within the FDA centers, at levels below that of the Center Director. I believe that this authority should be delegated to a higher level, so on May 6th I issued an interim policy on the approval of outside activities. Under this policy, FDA Center Directors must review and, if an activity is allowed, approve all outside activity requests.

In light of recent questions about possible conflicts of interest involving HHS agencies, I have also directed a comprehensive review of all current outside activity requests from all FDA employees. Once that review has been completed, FDA will issue a final policy on the review and approval of outside activities.

FDA's commitment to the highest ethical standards in its dealings with regulated entities remains constant. I am confident that the current review of FDA employees' outside activities will show that the nation is well served by the dedication of FDA's expert scientists and physicians and their demonstrated ability to conduct the public business fairly and impartially.

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