No More ‘Heads Up’ for Foreign Facilities: Ernst Wants to Level the Playing Field for American Producers

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is seeking to eliminate the lead time that foreign pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities-like those in Communist China-receive before FDA inspections, to even the playing field between foreign and American manufacturers.

"Giving foreign drug manufacturers in countries like China a 'heads up' before facility inspections, while putting our own domestic producers at a disadvantage, makes about as much sense as relying on the CCP to make these critical goods in the first place. This bill will put American producers on a level playing field with foreign competitors, help bring manufacturing back to the U.S., and reduce our reliance on Communist China," said Senator Joni Ernst.

Along with Senator Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Ernst introduced the Creating Efficiency in Foreign Inspections Act to create an incentive for drug manufacturers abroad to bring their facilities back to the U.S., leading to a stronger domestic supply chain.

Foreign pharmaceutical facilities are awarded significant lead time between the time they are notified of a facility inspection and the time the inspections take place. Domestic facilities do not receive the same treatment, receiving little to no advance notice prior to a facility inspection. This legislation would end the lead time that pharmaceutical facilities outside of the U.S. receive for FDA inspections and level the playing field for domestic manufacturers.

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