The U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a strategy document on May 2 outlining the agency’s guiding principles for implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
The document is meant “to guide the next phase of FSMA implementation by outlining broadly the drivers of change in FDA’s approach to food safety and the operational strategy for implementing that change.”
It includes plans for internal changes as well as changes to guides for implementing rules regarding food and feed facilities, produce safety and the new import system.
FDA deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine, Michael Taylor, announced that the document was in the works during the Food Safety Summit’s Town Hall in April.
Taylor mentioned the “strategic direction” document while responding to a question about economically motivated adulteration, and he later told reporters that none of its content should come as a surprise.
“I’ve been talking a long time about how we’re going to have to change the way we do our work internally to implement FSMA well,” he said at the time, “in terms of how our inspectors approach inspection, how we work with the states, how we focus on technical assistance and guidance for industry … and then being able to use our administrative enforcement tools efficiently when there is a legitimate public health need to do so.”
In a May 2 FDA Voice blog post entitled “We’re Reinventing Ourselves to Keep Your Food Safe,” Taylor and Howard Sklamberg, deputy commissioner for global operations, wrote that they hope the document produces a “springboard for discussion” with the food safety community.
“We know discussion is needed, because the strategy that will make FSMA a success requires significant change in how we at FDA do our work and how we work with our partners,” they stated.
The blog also noted that the agency has created a new FVM Governance Board – a reconstituted version of the Foods Program Executive Committee – to help to enhance collaboration between the the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and the Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) for decisions regarding FSMA implementation. Taylor and Sklamberg co-chair the board, and CFSAN Director Michael Landa, CVM Director Bernadette Dunham, and Melinda Plaisier, associate commissioner for Regulatory Affairs, are also members.
