Press Office
Food and Drug Administration
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS          William Rados:     301-443-3220

November 7, 1997                 

                                Consumer Hotline:  800-532-4440

 



 FDA OPENS "ELECTRONIC FOI READING ROOM" ON ITS REVAMPED WEBSITE

   Website Now Offers More, Easier Access to Agency Documents 



     FDA's internet website at www.fda.gov has widely expanded

its capabilities in several ways, including a new electronic

Freedom of Information Act (FOI) "reading room."   This feature

allows users to access and download a wide range of agency

documents and records.  In addition, the website's homepage has

been revamped to make it easier for consumers, journalists,

health professionals and others to access information suited to

their special needs. 

     Internet users can now directly access such documents as

warning letters, inspection operation manuals, monthly import

detention lists, medical device reports and other often-requested

material without having to go through the time and paperwork of

filing a traditional FOI request.  The Electronic FOI Reading

Room can be reached directly from the FDA homepage and contains

an index with links to all its current listings. 



     The Electronic FOI Reading Room is one of the latest

features to be added to the FDA website in order to enhance its

value to internet users, in keeping with the Electronic Freedom

of Information Act Amendments of 1996. 

     To further enhance its website, FDA has also revised the

homepage to offer users more ways to find the particular types 

of information they are looking for.  The new options provide 

specialized "menus" of selections for consumers, journalists  

and other user groups.  These menus will help users to access

information on a given subject from throughout the agency,

regardless of the FDA center or office that published it.  

     For further information about FDA's website and its new

capabilities contact Bill Rados at 301-443-3220 (or e-mail

wrados@bangate.fda.gov).

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