Electronic translational services for regulatory documents for articles offered for import

Overview

Development stage

DeployedSource: c) Deployed – The use case is being actively authorized or utilized to support the functions or mission of an agency.

High-impact designation

Not high-impactSource: c) Not high-impact

Impact justification

Not reported

Start date

2024-04 (month precision)Source: Apr-24

Withheld from public reporting

NoSource: a) No

Mission

Topic area

Information Technology

Operational functions

Translation and transcription Derived by keyword rules; see methodology

Problem the AI is intended to solve

FDA' Office of Information Operations (OIO) seeks to implement automated translation capabilities for foreign language documents essential to import operations. By integrating translation services directly into OIO staff workflows, the Agency can improve import screening to better serve stakeholders while maximizing staff capacity for core public health protection activities.

Expected benefits

The implemented solution automated the electronic translation of inspection/investigation and import documents, labels, industry guidance, materials related to policy and regulatory, presentations and educational records. This automation significantly reduced time spent by staff to translate documents, reduced the need to find a translator to read and understand foreign language documents, increased reliability and timeliness for enforcement actions, increased destruction of misbranded FDA regulated products at the IMFs, and increased the ability to provide regulatory materials in foreign languages.

System outputs

A translation service interface developed within an imports entry review system that utilizes Google Translate API provides the required translation of the entries entering US supply-chain. This will provide translation to the FDA imports staff without seeking external solutions and is integrated in the current system used by the consumer safety officers who are conducting investigations, import operations etc.

Technology

AI classification

Natural language processingSource: Natural Language Processing: AI that processes, interprets, and shares information in human language.

System name(s)

MLaaS

Custom-developed code

Yes

Public source code

git.fda.gov ↗

Sourcing

How it was built

Contract and in-houseSource: c) Developed with both contracting and in-house resources

Vendor (as reported)

Google Translate API / MLaaS / Azure

Vendors (standardized)

MMicrosoftGoogle

A vendor is the supplier named by the agency. It does not identify the underlying model or AI technology.

Data and privacy

Involves PII

Yes

Privacy Impact Assessment

Not reported

Authorization to Operate

Yes

Demographic features

k) None of the above

Training and evaluation data

N/a

Federal Data Catalog

Not reported

Governance

0 of 8 minimum-practice questions answered. A blank answer means the agency reported nothing; it does not mean the practice is absent.

Potential impacts and how they were identified

Not reported