February 6, 2002–The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says the number of drug-related current good manufacturing practice (cGMPs) inspections will rise by more than 50 percent in fiscal year 2003, according to an agency official.

At a recent press briefing on the agency’s 2003 budget, Jeff Weber, acting senior associate commissioner for management, said the agency expects it will conduct an estimated 1,450 inspections in fiscal 2003, up from about 949 inspections in fiscal 2002. That compares to 930 inspections that were conducted in fiscal 2001.

According to the FDA, foreign cGMP inspections related to drugs also should increase to about 240 inspections in fiscal 2003, compared to 111 estimated inspections in fiscal 2002 and 219 inspections in fiscal 2001.