May 21, 2003
Honorable Ann M. Veneman
Secretary
U.S. Department of Agriculture
14th and Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250
Dear Secretary Veneman:
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) is pleased to provide you with the attached “State Food Safety Resource Survey,” a survey that was recently conducted by our affiliate association, the Association of Food and Drug Officials. It documents the extent of food safety regulatory activities conducted by state and local government agencies. In particular, the survey shows that food inspection programs at the state and local level receive less than 10 percent federal funding, yet they conduct more than 80 percent of the food establishment inspections in the United States.
We are also providing you with a parallel state survey, which was also conducted by AFDO, showing the amounts and distribution of federal funding for states for counter-terrorism and food safety/security activities. Less than one half of one percent of these total dollars has been earmarked for state readiness at the manufacturing, processing, distribution, storage and retail levels for food.
Our organization has actively promoted the vision of a fully integrated food safety system for the United States. As partners in the federal system, we strongly support ongoing efforts to enhance the safety and security of our nation’s food supply and the agricultural production system which supports it.
We believe it is necessary to recommit to a common mission to better coordinate, plan and share resources in matters of both food safety and food security. Outlined in more detail below are recommendations to achieve these goals through the long-term restructuring of existing food protection efforts, as well as specific action items that can, and should, be implemented immediately.
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture represents the commissioners, secretaries, and directors of the state departments of agriculture in the fifty states and four territories. The Association of Food and Drug Officials serves as the major voice for state and local government food safety officials. We stand ready to work with you to achieve our mutual goals.
Sincerely,
Patrick A. Takasugi
NASDA President
Secretary, Idaho Department of Agriculture
Nathan Rudgers
Chairman, NASDA Food Regulation Committee
Commissioner, New York Department Agriculture and Markets