Concerning: Decrease in FDA Contract Inspections for States

Whereas, FDA and the states have a long tradition of working closely together through formalized contracts, partnerships, and cooperative agreements, and

Whereas, these efforts have had a positive effect on addressing the workload challenges of FDA while providing funding to states to assist them in building infrastructure and standardized programs, and

Whereas, during FY2015 states performed 9,365 FDA contract inspections accounting for 56% of the total number of inspections reported by FDA, and

Whereas, states must maintain FDA inspection contracts in order to meet Manufactured Food Regulatory Program standards, and

Whereas, passage of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) will result in the creation of more inspection work to be conducted, and

Whereas, FDA has publicly stated it is interested in shifting more domestic inspections to the states allowing FDA to devote more of their attention to international work, and

Whereas, it is unclear whether FDA intends to hire more field inspectors to do domestic inspections, and

Whereas, states are reporting that some FDA Districts have significantly decreased contract inspections to states at a time when workload is increasing, therefore be it

Resolved, that AFDO request FDA to clarify, as specifically as possible, its policy position on state contract inspections as it relates to joint work planning and leveraging of state resources, and

Be it further Resolved, that AFDO advises FDA of the need for better coordination, consistency, guidance, and monitoring of work planning between FDA Districts and states to ensure efficient use of limited resources, and maintain adequate inspection coverage and public health protection.