New FDA Commissioner Gottlieb Reorganizing Inspection Staff

Federal inspectors who ensure the safety of the nation’s food and medical products will begin specializing in certain areas, as new Food and Drug Administration commissioner Scott Gottlieb enters his first full week at the agency.

Workers in the FDA’s Office of Regulatory Affairs will begin focusing on overseeing specific product areas -- such as pharmaceuticals or medical devices -- rather than activities in their U.S. geographic regions, Gottlieb said Monday in a memo obtained by Bloomberg News. The staff of 4,000 investigates consumer complaints, oversees imported goods, and inspects domestic and foreign facilities to ensure compliance with agency standards. The initiative was proposed four years ago, with implementation set to start this month.