In 1992, Congress passed legislation authorizing FDA to collect fees from companies that produce certain human drug and biological products. The program was reauthorized in 1997 as part of the FDA Modernization Act. FDA has used resources from this program to hire more product reviewers and support staff and to upgrade FDA's information technology, so that its decisions on product applications are more timely. For the consumer, this has meant that more medicines are available more quickly without compromising the quality of the products.
Reporters can register at the meeting.