The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced in the Federal Register in early April that it is accepting public comments relating to the agency’s Food Protection Plan.1
The Food Protection Plan, which was released in November 2007,
represents the FDA’s new, updated strategy for safeguarding the
nation’s food supply. Comments may be submitted until July 31, 2008.
The FDA is responsible for the safety of about 80% of all food sold in the United States. According to the Federal Register
notice, the US food supply is considered one of the safest in the
world, but certain trends and situations—including new food production
technology and business practices, increased importation of foods from
foreign countries, and an increase in the variety of agents associated
with foodborne illness—have presented new challenges to the FDA in
maintaining the safety of the US food supply. The Food Protection Plan
focuses on assessing potential risks and vulnerabilities in the food
supply system, promoting increased corporate responsibility, assuring
inspections and surveillance at high risk points in the food supply
chain, and increasing the agency’s speed and efficiency in responding
to safety concerns.
In the Federal Register notice, the FDA has proposed
multiple questions regarding certain aspects of the Food Protection
Plan, and the agency is particularly interested in receiving responses
to these questions in submitted comments. The Food Protection Plan is
accessible here, and the Federal Register notice is available here.
On the same day that the FDA invited comments on the Food Protection
Plan, the agency also requested comments on third-party certification
programs for foods and feeds.2 FDA announced that it was
requesting such comments to learn more about the existence and use of
third-party certification programs and to better understand how they
can help ensure the safety and FDA-compliance of food products. The
deadline for submitting comments for this notice, available here, is May 19, 2008.
—Courtney Cavaliere
References
1Food and Drug Administration. Food protection plan; outreach activities; opportunity for public comment. 73 Federal Register 17987. April 2, 2008. Available at: http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/ContentViewer?objectId=09000064804274da&disposition=attachment&contentType=html. Accessed May 6, 2008.
2Food and Drug Administration. Third-party certification programs for foods and feeds; request for comments. 73 Federal Register 17989. April 2, 2008. Available at: http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/ContentViewer?objectId=0900006480427502&disposition=attachment&contentType=html. Accessed May 6, 2008. |