The US Food & Drug Administration has long played a vital role in protecting Americans and setting high standards for other regulators around the world. But it is currently sick, and Barack Obama, president-elect, should move swiftly to restore it to health.

The FDA has been lambasted by politicians over side-effects of the diabetes drug Avandia, and the failure to prevent the import of contaminated products from China, including the blood thinner Heparin and baby milk containing melamine.