FDA continues to pursue a modern approach to food safety, as the agency adds specialized inspectors and develops new policies under the Food Safety Modernization Act. Mike Taylor, FDA's deputy commissioner for food, addressed a group of produce industry leaders earlier this month at the United Fresh Produce Association's conference. He discussed the agency's shift in focus toward coordinated compliance between industry and government, with an eye on outcomes, rather than obtaining evidence of violations purely for the sake of enforcement.
To facilitate these efforts, FDA is transitioning away from general inspectors, who were traditionally engaged by regional field offices to review all types of regulated products—food, drugs, medical devices, dietary supplements, and cosmetics. Instead, FDA will use specialized food inspectors who can develop expertise in a specific product category and better collaborate with scientists at FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
Taylor said this new approach will help inspectors develop an understanding of each company's "food-safety culture," or commitment to compliance, which will, in turn, inform how often FDA needs to return for additional assessments. Taylor acknowledged that farm monitoring will be done in collaboration with state departments of agriculture. One week following his speech, FDA announced a cooperative agreement with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture to help plan and implement the national produce safety rule.
Taylor noted that final rules on preventive controls, produce safety, and foreign suppliers are expected in 2015, but enforcement may still be as many as four years away. In the meantime, FDA will hold public meetings to discuss implementation.
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