Issue View | Council II | 2016 Biennial Meeting

This is a brand new Issue.

PSC 4 - Posting of Retail Program Standards Infographic on CFP Website

The Program Standards Committee has completed the charges outlined in Issue 2014 II-003 related to Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (Retail Program Standards) 2, 4 and 7. The committee has identified the benefits to industry for regulatory authorities to achieve Standard 2, Standard 4, and Standard 7. The committee developed an infographic poster that may serve as a resource for industry and other stakeholders to share those benefits.

The 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requires the FDA to partner with state and local food safety regulatory agencies to build a national Integrated Food Safety System (IFSS). The goal of a national IFSS is to develop a seamless partnership and operation of federal, state, and local food safety regulatory agencies to meet the public health mission of achieving a safer food supply. The benefits of having a regulatory authority meeting the Retail Program Standards contributes to an IFSS by improving the confidence in the food safety work being conducted by other agencies, focusing efforts on the reduction of risk factors known to contribute to foodborne illness, and encouraging retail food establishments to implement active managerial control over these risk factors.

Along with being a foundation and system upon which all retail food regulatory programs can build through a continuous improvement process, the Retail Program Standards provide a model of what a quality program should encompass. Standard 2 provides the essential elements of a training program for regulatory staff. Standard 4 pertains to implementing an on-going quality assurance program that evaluates inspection uniformity to ensure inspection quality, inspection frequency and consistency among the regulatory staff. Standard 7 concerns enhancing two-way communication with industry and consumers through forums designed to solicit input to improve the food safety program.

The Retail Program Standards Competency of Inspectors Infographic can be used by both industry, regulators, and other stakeholders to relate the benefits to industry for regulatory authorities to achieve Standards 2, 4 and 7 of the Retail Program Standards.

that the Retail Program Standards Competency of Inspectors Infographic be posted to the CFP website in PDF format as a Conference-developed guidance document.