United States, Canada, Mexico agree to protect public health

Canada, Mexico, and the United States have finalized an agreement to increase communication, collaboration, and the exchange of information in the areas of drugs, biologics, medical devices, food safety, and nutrition. The three countries have signed the Trilateral Cooperation Charter, a document that describes how they will work together more closely to protect and promote the public health of all people in North America.

"Advancing and protecting the public health is this agency's mission," said former FDA Commissioner Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D. "[The] agreement is the culmination of years of hard work with our colleagues from Canada and Mexico, and ... demonstrates our mutual dedication toward achieving that goal on our shared continent."

The charter serves the mutual interests of all three countries and provides a forum and a framework for participants to discuss effective means for achieving their shared public health mission.

The charter lists key priorities for cooperation among the three countries in 2004. These include enforcement actions against fraudulent weight-loss products and other health fraud cases, better emergency response and preparedness for public health emergencies, and coordinating tire work of analytical laboratories that support investigations of fraudulent or counterfeit products and other public health risks.

The new charter took effect on Feb. 27, 2004. It is available online at www.fda.gov/oia/charter.html.

COPYRIGHT 2004 U.S. Government Printing Office
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