ment II FDA's staff manual guide on protection 35 III Principal officials responsible for admin- 52 COMPTROLLER GENERAL'S THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION'S FINANCIAL SPECIAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES: 1 DIGEST The Food and Drug Administration, an organiza- How do conflict-of-interest statutes for special --In January 1976, the agency issued, in draft, --GAO found numerous errors and inconsistencies See pp. Tear Sheet. Upon removal, the report cover date should be noted hereon. i FPCD-76-99 No --GAO did not find any cases involving actual conflicts of interest. But the scope of GAO's review was not sufficiently broad to enable GAO to find such cases should they exist. comparison was made between specific financial interests and individual duties and responsibilities (See pp. 31 and 32.) --The Food and Drug Administration believes that it is in the forefront of policy development for special Government employees. (See p. 13.) But GAO is still concerned because present guidance does not provide policy for all special Government employees. (See pp. 16 and 17.) The Food and Drug Administration needs to develop procedures to make sure that special Government employees serving on committees do not participate in matters in which they are disqualified by employment or other financial interests. Based on tests made by GAO, the Food and Drug Administration officials charged with this responsibility did not always have required information. (See p. 19.) The Food and Drug Administration further needs to formalize its system of public disclosure to make sure that potentially controversial interests held by special Government employees are described clearly and consistently. pp. 20 through 22.) (See GAO recommends that the Secretary, HEW, actively assist the Food and Drug Administration in developing a policy to protect against conflicts of interest and to resolve difficult policy issues. (See p. 29.) GAO also recommends that the Secretary, HEW, direct the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration to take steps to improve its system (see pp. 29 and 30) including: Tear Sheet --Completing system development which in volves (1) developing policy to provide --Issuing guidelines clearly defining the responsibilities and organizational level of officials making the initial conflict-ofinterest recommendation. --Formalizing the system to make sure that --Developing written procedures setting forth what information should be contained in public disclosure memoranda and the format to be used, so the information will be presented clearly and understandably. This review was requested by the Chairman, --The effectiveness of the Food and Drug Administration's financial disclosure system for special Government employees. --Whether financial disclosure statements are promptly filed by the special Government employees and reviewed by the agency. --Whether special Government employees appear to have financial conflicts of interest which could affect the quality and objectivity of their work for the agency. (See p. 31.) |