Concerning: Operational Structure for FSMA Implementation
Whereas, AFDO believes a fully integrated national food safety system will be required in order to meet the mandates of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), and
Whereas, state food safety agencies will play a critical role in partnering with FDA to advance integration and assist FDA in meeting these FSMA mandates, and
Whereas, current efforts such as state representative involvement on FDA FSMA Implementation Teams and AFDO’s Food Committee FSMA updates have provided important but limited FSMA implementation information to state officials, and
Whereas, AFDO believes a more formalized operational structure which includes officials from FDA, AFDO and other stakeholder organizations would be helpful in developing strategies for implementing FSMA and assisting in the identification of available human, financial, and organizational resources, and
Whereas, an operational structure could also assist in the development and review of guidance documents, inspection protocols and compliance policies, and
Whereas, an operational structure could also be beneficial in developing a formalized funding framework for conducting training, outreach, assessments, and inspections in support of new FSMA regulations by state food safety programs, therefore, be it
Resolved, that AFDO request FDA to support the formation of a formalized operational structure to provide assistance and guidance in the implementation of FSMA, and be it further
Resolved, FDA considers formalizing this operational structure through a formalized agreement or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
