Comments Being Accepted for the Review of FDA's Role in Ensuring Food Safety

An ad hoc committee of the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council will undertake a study to examine gaps in public health protection provided by the farm-to-table food safety system under the purview of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and identify opportunities to fill those gaps. The study will address the recommendations of the November 2007 FDA Food Protection Plan by evaluating the plan and identifying gaps and opportunities (recommendations) to fill the gaps. The committee's consensus report will include legislative, regulatory, and administrative recommendations and estimates of costs of such recommendations, as feasible. Specifically, the committee will:
- Evaluate the Food Protection Plan (FDA Plan) in light of past reports directed at strengthening food safety including, but not limited to Ensuring Safe Food from Production to Consumption (IOM/NRC 1998), Scientific Criteria for Safe Food (IOM/NRC 2003), 2007 FDA Science Board report, and relevant GAO reports;
- Identify strengths and weaknesses of the FDA Plan, factors that may limit its achievement, and needed revisions or additions; and
- Identify and recommend enhancements in FDA's tools and capacity that are needed to implement a comprehensive plan and assure a risk-based preventive system, including in the areas of new regulatory tools and statutory authority; research mandate; resources required for research, scientific and technical infrastructure, standard setting, inspection, and enforcement; integration of programs with other regulatory and public health agencies involved in food safety surveillance, research and regulation at federal, state and local levels; and changes in organizational and leadership structures on food safety within the Department of Health and Human Services.

A report is expected to be released February 2010.

Space for the meeting is limited; contact Gui Liu at gliu@nas.edu if you would like to attend.

Comments Due By: To register to provide public comments during the workshop please email Gui Liu at gliu@nas.edu by Monday March 23rd at 10 am. Comments should be no more than 5 min long.

Date Released: --

Web site: More information on the review is at http://iom.edu/CMS/3788/61104.aspx

An agenda for the March 24, 2009 meeting is at http://iom.edu/Object.File/Master/64/007/Open%20Sessions%20Agenda.pdf

Committee membership is at http://iom.edu/CMS/3788/61104/61209.aspx