About the Conference

About the Conference

Mission

Though federal, state, and local governments are primarily responsible for setting food safety standards, many other organizations share a stake in carrying out enforcement of the standards. The Conference for Food Protection brings together representatives from the food industry, government, academia, and consumer organizations to identify and address emerging problems of food safety and to formulate recommendations. The Conference seeks to balance the interests of regulatory and industry while providing an open forum for the consideration of ideas from any source. The Conference meets biennially to provide this forum. Though the Conference has no formal regulatory authority, it is a powerful organization that profoundly influences model laws and regulations among all government agencies and minimizes disparate interpretations and implementation.

Objectives

The Conference for Food Protection promotes food safety and consumer protection by the following:

  • Identifying and addressing problems in the production, processing, packaging, distribution, sale, and service of foods;
  • Focusing on and facilitating the food protection programs governing the foodservice, retail food store, and food vending segments of the food industry;
  • Adopting sound, uniform procedures which will be accepted by food regulatory agencies and industry;
  • Promoting mutual respect and trust by establishing a working liaison among governmental agencies, industry, academic institutions, professional associations, and consumer groups concerned with food safety;
  • Promoting uniformity among States, territories, and the District of Columbia. Territories include American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, The Trust Territory, and the U.S. Virgin Islands; and
  • Utilizing the following as the primary channels for dissemination of Information:
    • The U.S. Department of Agriculture/Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) in matters under its purview, such as food production, meat and poultry processing, and consumer information; and
    • The U.S. Public Health Service/Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in matters under its purview, such as food processing, and assistance to food regulatory agencies based on the model food codes and related documents.

Current Organization

The Conference is managed by an Executive Board that includes 23 voting members who represent: State food regulatory agencies from each of the CFP regions; local food regulatory agencies from each of the CFP regions; the FDA; USDA/FSIS; US CDC, the food industry; academia; and consumers. In addition, the Board includes non-voting ex officio members as follows: the Chair and Vice-Chair of each of the three Councils; the Program Chair(s); the Issue Chair(s); the Canadian representative; the Immediate Past Conference Chair; and the Executive Director, Executive Treasurer, and the Executive Assistant.

Three Councils provide forums for deliberating the impact of food-related laws and regulations (Council I); developing various administrative, education, and certification guidelines and procedures (Council II); and discussing the science and technology of food safety Issues (Council III). Separate committees in each discipline may be appointed to study and review Issues and make recommendations to each Council at succeeding biennial meetings. Active membership in CFP provides opportunities for participation by regulators, industry members, consumers, academics, students, and professional organizations. Non-voting advisors and a parliamentarian are available to each Council to offer needed advice during deliberations. Councils deliberate Issues and recommend actions to the Assembly of State Delegates.

For an overview of the organization in Powerpoint format please open the link: CFP_Orientation

The Conference deliberates food safety Issues that are submitted by interested persons on approved forms and within specified time frames. Issues are assigned to one of the three Councils for consideration.

Assembly of State Delegates

A Delegate is a registrant at a CFP biennial meeting who represents a state, territory, or the District of Columbia food regulatory agency responsible for the enforcement of food laws and regulations for food processing, food service, vending, and food stores. The Assembly considers and votes on actions recommended by the Councils.

Memoranda of Understanding

The Conference for Food Protection is honored to have established Memoranda of Understanding with foremost food safety organizations.

Registration and Affiliation Procedures

If you would like more specific information about the Conference for Food Protection, its Councils and working committees, or are interested in promoting the objectives of the Conference, contact:

David McSwane, HSD, Executive Director
Conference for Food Protection
30 Eliott Court
Martinsville, IN 46151-1331
Telephone: 317-696-0573
dmcswane.cfp@gmail.com