FDA's International Food Safety Capacity-Building Plan Released

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released its International Food Safety Capacity-Building Plan, which provides a strategic framework for FDA's international food safety capacity-building activities, the FDA said.

The plan outlines goals, objectivies and key actions that will provide a framework for the FDA in setting priorities and managing international food safety capacity building programs.

The capacity-building plan will include the following, according to FDA:

• Recommendations for bilateral and multilateral arrangements and agreements, including providing for responsibilities of exporting countries to ensure food safety;
• Provisions for secure electronic data sharing;
• Provisions for mutual recognition of inspection reports;
• Training of foreign governments and food producers on U.S. requirements for safe food;
• Recommendations on whether and how to harmonize requirements under the Codex Alimentarius; and
• Provisions for multilateral acceptance of laboratory methods and testing and detection techniques.

View the full text of the plan here.