The US Food and Drug Administration is planning to open many of its procedures and processes to industry and the public.

It has published a transparency proposal in a response to the Obama administration’s promise of more openness in government. FDA commissioner Dr Margaret Hamburg organised an FDA transparency commission last June.

In the first phase, the FDA set up an FDA Basics website (www.fda.gov/fdabasics). It includes questions and answers about how the FDA works and the products it regulates. It includes short videos explaining various FDA activities and monthly online sessions in which senior FDA officials answer questions about specific topics.

In the second phase, the FDA disclosed measures of workload and results …