The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) resumed conducting domestic surveillance inspections, effective February 7, 2021, given a decline in COVID-19 cases across the US. The agency also has a goal of resuming prioritized foreign surveillance inspections under certain conditions in April (April 2022).

In December 2021, the agency had announced temporary changes to its inspectional activities to adapt to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and the spread of the Omicron variant. 

In addition to resuming domestic surveillance inspections, the FDA says it continues to conduct both foreign and domestic mission-critical inspections and provide oversight using a variety of tools, including remote assessments.

The agency is proceeding with previously planned foreign surveillance inspections that have received country clearance and are within the travel recommendations (Level 1 or Level 2) of US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation. Planning for additional foreign surveillance inspections is ongoing, with an anticipated goal of conducting foreign prioritized inspections starting in April (April 2022).

Source: US Food and Drug Administration