Who leads the Import Safety Action Plan?

• A. Surgeon General
• B. HHS Secretary
• C. FDA Commissioner
• D. Secretary of Agriculture

Answer: (B)

Leading import safety efforts requires someone who can set health-focused priorities and coordinate across agencies. The Secretary of Health and Human Services holds that responsibility, because import safety concerns health risks from foods, drugs, and medical devices, which fall under HHS and the FDA. The Secretary can align FDA, the Department of Agriculture when needed, and other agencies to implement a unified plan, allocate resources, and communicate policy. The FDA Commissioner directs regulatory actions within FDA, but does not single-handedly steer the entire plan. The Surgeon General is a public health spokesperson and advisor, not the plan’s principal leader, and the Secretary of Agriculture focuses mainly on agricultural policy rather than the broad health-related import safety scope.