Concerning: Work Planning

Whereas, the planning and coordination of food safety field operations and training, and effective communication between the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other partner agencies at the federal, state, local, tribal and territorial level with overlapping jurisdiction are critical components of an integrated food safety system (IFSS), and

Whereas, these activities facilitate efficient use of government resources and promote the safety and security of the food supply, and

Whereas, the Partnership for Food Protection (PFP) has developed the “Model for Local Federal/State Planning and Coordination of Field Operations and Training Best Practices” document, and

Whereas, this best practices document addresses planning and coordination of field operations that relate to the scheduling of inspections, sample collection and analysis; executing assignments, response activities, and compliance/enforcement activities, and

Whereas, AFDO believes work planning is so critical that it should be executed in all FDA Districts in order to advance integration there, and

Whereas, several states are reporting that current work planning with FDA has been limited to FDA Contract inspections, therefore be it

Resolved, that FDA work with AFDO or the Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Alliance (MFRPA) to assure comprehensive work planning is employed in all FDA Districts, and be it further

Resolved, that at a minimum the work planning include the elements prescribed in the PFP Best Practices document, and be it further

Resolved, that as part of this work planning, the IFSS Toolkit be considered by FDA Districts and states as a means of assessing their integration efforts and needs.