Conference call March 25, 2003 - Food Regulatio and Nutrition committee

• March 25, 2003 10:05AM - 10:05AM

FOOD REGULATION & NUTRITION COMMITTEE
Chairman Nathan Rudgers, New York
CONFERENCE CALL MEETING
MARCH 25, 2003

COMMITTEE REPORT

Summary of Committee Action:

• Food Threat Preparedness Network (PrepNet). The Committee discussed the Administration’s initiative for a Food Threat Preparedness Network (PrepNet). PrepNet is an executive-level interagency group organized to share information and enhance communications on food security matters. It is co-chaired by USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are seeking more state involvement and have asked NASDA to officially participate.Committee members expressed the importance of PrepNet. The Committee recommended that NASDA fully participate in PrepNet activities and that Nathan Rudgers fill the seat reserved for a state government representative on the PrepNet executive team.

• AFDO (Association of Food & Drug Officials) Report on State Food Safety Activities. The Committee discussed a new report/survey conducted by NASDA’s affiliate organization AFDO to assess the food safety activities by states. The study was requested by the Committee as part of its ongoing work in developing recommendations on food safety and security. Some of the areas reviewed in the survey are inspection activities, enforcement, surveillance, resources, and laboratory capacity. The report will be released in coming weeks. Chairman Rudgers emphasized that the report provides a unique opportunity to show the important work/activities of the states on food safety and security matters. Committee members discussed how to best use the report data. The Committee agreed that NASDA and AFDO should jointly present the report to key Administration and Congressional officials. The Committee will develop recommendations and “action requests” for state funding needs, which will accompany the report. States from NASDA’s four regions (FL, WA, WI, MA) will begin this work. These recommendations will also be developed and coordinated with AFDO and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO).

• Federal Information Sharing on Food Safety and Security Issues. The Committee discussed state needs and concerns related to emergency communications, vulnerability assessments, and readiness. Many states are concerned about the difficulty and lack of standard procedures and submissions for security clearances to receive federal intelligence on food security threats. The Committee recommended that the need for facilitating security clearances be communicated to appropriate Administration and USDA officials. The Committee also discussed state confidentiality laws and Freedom of Information regulations which may hamper food security activities. Some states have already implemented new laws and/or regulations to address this situation. NASDA will consider creating a “members only” clearinghouse for states to share information and model regulations.

• Food Supply Risk & Vulnerability Assessments. Many states are working on vulnerability assessments and risk analyses related to food security through grants from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and state health agencies. The New York Department of Agriculture and Markets has developed surveys to conduct their assessments and Chairman Rudgers is making this information available to other states.