Concerning: Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards

Whereas, AFDO believes the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (VNRFRPS) is an important component of achieving an integrated food safety system and

Whereas, currently, there is no established forum similar to the Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Alliance (MFRPA) to provide training and assistance to state and local food regulatory programs to help comply with the VNRFRPS and

Whereas, the MFRPA is an established and successful model forum for Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Managers to meet and discuss issues related to the Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards (MFRPS), provide training and information on program management best practices, and propose changes to the MFRPS and

Whereas, AFDO believes a Retail Food Regulatory Program Alliance modeled after the MFRPA would significantly improve enrollment, training, communication and be more representative of local and state retail food regulatory programs and

Whereas, the MFRPS and the Animal Feed Regulatory Program Standards (AFRPS) are currently administered through FDA ORA and the VNRFRPS is administered through FDA CFSAN and

Whereas, AFDO believes to improve uniformity and consistency in the FDA management, administration, communication, and standards revision process regarding these Program Standards, the administration, management, and communication of the VRFRPS should be relocated from FDA’s CFSAN to FDA’s ORA alongside the AFRPS and MFRPS therefore, be it

Resolved, AFDO recommends the creation of a Retail Food Regulatory Program Alliance modeled after the Manufactured Food Regulatory Alliance to improve the standards revision process, communication, enrollment and assistance to local and state retail food regulatory programs and be it further

Resolved, AFDO recommends the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards be relocated from FDA’s CFSAN to FDA’s ORA to improve the standards revision process, communication, uniformity, and consistency in the management and administration of regulatory program standards.