FSIS to Conduct Food Defense Plan Survey in August

FSIS will conduct a survey Aug. 1 to determine how many FSIS-regulated slaughter and processing plants have voluntarily adopted functional food defense plans.

Prior to this date, the agency will revise the survey to assure that plans containing functional food defense measures, but called something other than food defense plans, are considered in the survey. A notice of instruction and training will also be provided for guidance.

Additional outreach initiatives will also be launched such as providing assistance to members at trade association meetings on how to develop a functional food defense plan and posting "questions and answers" specific to developing a plan into askFSIS, on the agency's Web site.

There are no regulatory requirements for an establishment to develop a plan; however, FSIS strongly encourages establishments to maintain a food defense plan. A food defense plan helps to identify steps that will help minimize the risk that food products in an establishment will be intentionally contaminated or tampered with and it also increases preparedness.

Although the plan should be in place at all times, it may be particularly helpful during emergencies. During a crisis, when stress is high and response time is at a premium, a documented set of procedures will improve an establishment's ability to respond quickly. A food defense plan also helps to maintain a safe working environment for employees, provide a quality product to customers, and protect an establishment's bottom line.

The agency is expecting to see a goal of a 50 percent adoption rate since the prior two surveys in which the adoption rate was less than 50 percent. Ultimately, FSIS is expecting industry to reach a goal of at least 90 percent of plants adopting functional food defense plans in order to stave off the agency's move forward with rulemaking that will mandate functional food defense plans.

To learn how to develop a functional food defense plan, visit FSIS' Web site.