---
kind: "section"
citation: "21 U.S.C. § 383"
title: "21"
title_heading: "Food and Drugs"
number: "383"
heading: "Office of International Relations"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/21/383"
units:
  - "Chapter 9 — Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act"
  - "Subchapter VIII — Imports and Exports"
---

# §383. Office of International Relations

- (a) **Establishment—** There is established in the [Department](/usc/21/321.md?p=c) of Health and Human Services an Office of International Relations.
- (b) **Agreements with foreign countries—** In carrying out the functions of the office under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) may enter into agreements with foreign countries to facilitate [commerce](/usc/21/360hh.md?p=4) in [devices](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1) between the United States and such countries consistent with the requirements of this chapter. In such agreements, the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) shall encourage the mutual recognition of—
  - (1) good manufacturing practice regulations promulgated under [section 360j(f) of this title](/usc/21/360j.md?p=f), and
  - (2) other regulations and testing protocols as the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) determines to be appropriate.
- (c) **Harmonizing regulatory requirements—**
  - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) shall support the Office of the United States Trade Representative, in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) of [Commerce](/usc/21/360hh.md?p=4), in meetings with representatives of other countries to discuss methods and approaches to reduce the burden of regulation and harmonize regulatory requirements if the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) determines that such harmonization continues consumer protections consistent with the purposes of this chapter.
  - (2) The [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) shall support the Office of the United States Trade Representative, in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) of [Commerce](/usc/21/360hh.md?p=4), in efforts to move toward the acceptance of mutual recognition agreements relating to the regulation of [drugs](/usc/21/321.md?p=g-1), biological [products](/usc/21/360eee.md?p=13), [devices](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1), [foods](/usc/21/321.md?p=f), [food additives](/usc/21/321.md?p=s), and [color additives](/usc/21/321.md?p=t-1), and the regulation of good manufacturing practices, between the European Union and the United States.
  - (3)
    - (A) The [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) shall regularly participate in meetings with representatives of other foreign governments to discuss and reach agreement on methods and approaches to harmonize regulatory requirements.
    - (B) In carrying out [subparagraph (A)](#c-3-A), the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) may participate in appropriate fora, including the International Medical [Device](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1) Regulators Forum, and may—
      - (i) provide guidance to such fora on strategies, policies, directions, membership, and other activities of a forum as appropriate;
      - (ii) to the extent appropriate, solicit, review, and consider comments from industry, academia, health care professionals, and patient groups regarding the activities of such fora; and
      - (iii) to the extent appropriate, inform the public of the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d)’s activities within such fora, and share with the public any documentation relating to a forum’s strategies, policies, and other activities of such fora.
  - (4) With respect to [devices](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1), the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) may, when appropriate, enter into arrangements with nations regarding methods and approaches to harmonizing regulatory requirements for activities, including inspections and common international [labeling](/usc/21/321.md?p=m) symbols.
  - (5) Paragraphs [(1)](#c-1) through [(4)](#c-4) shall not apply with respect to [products](/usc/21/360eee.md?p=13) defined in [section 321(ff) of this title](/usc/21/321.md?p=ff).

## Source credit

(June 25, 1938, ch. 675, § 803, as added Pub. L. 101–629, § 15(a), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4525; amended Pub. L. 105–115, title IV, § 410(b), Nov. 21, 1997, 111 Stat. 2373; Pub. L. 112–144, title VI, §§ 609, 610, July 9, 2012, 126 Stat. 1059.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2012—Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 112–144, § 610, designated existing provisions as subpar. (A) and added subpar. (B).

Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 112–144, § 609, amended par. (4) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (4) read as follows: “The Secretary shall, not later than 180 days after November 21, 1997, make public a plan that establishes a framework for achieving mutual recognition of good manufacturing practices inspections.”

1997—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–115 added subsec. (c).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1997 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–115 effective 90 days after Nov. 21, 1997, except as otherwise provided, see section 501 of Pub. L. 105–115, set out as a note under section 321 of this title.

### Report on Activities of Office of International Relations

Pub. L. 101–629, § 15(b), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4525, directed Secretary of Health and Human Services, not later than 2 years after Nov. 28, 1990, to prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the activities of the Office of International Relations under 21 U.S.C. 383.