Dive Summary:
- As laid out by Congress in the FSMA, the FDA must have a plan of action when it comes to ensuring the safety of all imported foods.
- The agency released their preliminary plans and data on Thursday, outlining exactly what was at stake, as well as an effective strategy working with foreign governments to increase food safety world-wide.
- As of right now, 15% of food consumed in the U.S. is imported, making this area of the bill one of the most important and far reaching.
From the article:
Ensuring the efficiency of FDA’s Foods and Veterinary Medicine program, which is responsible for overseeing the planning and implementation of FSMA.
Increasing the effectiveness of international food safety initiatives by monitoring their direct effects on public health. The agency makes it clear that it will be sensitive to the different food safety risks of each country, and will tailor its policies accordingly.
Support the exchange of information between FDA and other foreign government agencies or other entities by tapping into the latest technologies that permit such sharing.
Enhance technical assistance and capacity-building. This goal includes bolstering training of foreign food manufacturers and auditors, and pushes for universal lab testing techniques so that surveillance information can easily be shared from country to country
