The chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Mike Hawes, said: "The EU operates a fundamentally different system to the US – with all European tests performed in strict conditions as required by EU law and witnessed by a government-approved independent approval agency.
The policy announcement was welcomed by environmental organisations, who have been calling for an overhaul of federal environmental laws, and specifically for an independent environmental approval agency.
But if a test is to be widely sold and used to guide treatment, the F.D.A. expects the developers to seek approval, agency officials said.
"We've successfully secured the Office of Northern Australia and other key federal agencies, including the Major Projects Approval Agency, in Darwin so it makes strategic sense to locate the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility here too," he said.
In August, the Food and Drug Administration, the US drug approval agency, described the use of MDMA on PTSD patients as "Breakthrough Therapy" and endorsed two phase three studies, provided MAPS can secure the approximately 25 million US dollars necessary to conduct them.
This is already happening: a dozen East European countries now recognise rulings by the European Union's drug-approval agency.Putting money where the brains areScientists must eat.
Given that pharmaceutical agents have to demonstrate safety and efficacy before they receive marketing approval, regulatory agencies should consider reviewing their criteria for granting marketing approval to resuscitation fluids.
In New Orleans, where the agency has set up nearly 10,000 trailers, 109 sites await Mr. Nagin's approval, the agency says.
The Interior Department's action was delayed by the need for multiple approvals from agencies ranging from the Secret Service to the General Services Administration, officials said.
