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# FDA ‘Nimble’ in Pandemic Responses: Azar
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/fda-nimble-in-pandemic-responses-azar/
- Published: 2020-08-04T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T16:23:43.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Devices, #legacy-id-D5147350

HHS secretary **Alex Azar** 8/4 praised FDA commissioner **Stephen Hahn** for developing alternative regulatory pathways that could be used to obtain face masks from foreign countries in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. Appearing on “Mornings with Maria” on Fox Business, Azar [responded](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/510442-azar-fda-moved-quickly-to-stop-subpar-chinese-masks-from-being-sold?ref=fdaweb.com) to a *Wall Street Journal* analysis that determined that FDA allowed thousands of Chinese manufacturers to sell KN95 masks in the U.S. with little oversight or quality checks.

Azar said the alternative regulatory pathways allowed obtaining masks “if it was a reputable operator, if the product was approved in reputable countries other than China, or if there was independent data validation behind it.”

He said that on inspection, some manufacturers were found to be not reliable and had not obtained the needed independent test verification. “FDA quickly removed those products from the market,” he said. “So I think it just shows that FDA has, under **President Trump**’s direction, been very nimble, very adaptable to meet this unprecedented pandemic.”