Issue View | Council I | 2023 Biennial Meeting

This is a brand new Issue.

Amend the Food Code, Section 8-401.10

Under section 8-401.10, Establishing Inspection Interval allows for less frequent inspections. Adapt a new subparagraph in italics under paragraph B to say that the regulatory authority can increase the interval between inspections if the food establishment has a third-party inspection program. This will allow the use of inspections performed by a third party in combination with regulatory inspections to meet the required FDA Food Code regulatory quota for number of inspections. This subsection should be voluntary for industry and regulatory with an option to opt out of the program if either party is not satisfied. The regulatory agency has final approval of the third-party program submitted and can request any changes, updates, or edits as needed. This will allow increased inspection interval for regulatory agencies and support food safety programs under fiscal constraints.

Third-party inspections at retail and manufacturing facilities are already an established part of food safety management systems. This allows an opportunity to further establish a food safety partnership between industry and regulatory. For regulators challenged by funding issues and staffing, this would alleviate the financial constraints and allow them to focus on high risk establishments and other areas of public health work. Industry has proven that they have "self-policing" in place by the provision of internal programs where third-party certified food safety auditors can provide technical expertise and knowledge across a wide range of different food businesses. The impact to industry for such a program would allow participation in the regulatory process and provide an opportunity for a partnership approach to food safety which could benefit and meet future needs.

a letter be sent to FDA requesting the follwing:

1)Under 8-401.10 Establishing Inspection Interval, provide sub-section under paragraph B -

"Regulatory authority can increase the interval between inspections if the food establishment has an approved third-party audit system in place."

2)The conference recommends to establish a process whereby the food establishment receives a third-party food safety inspection at least every 6 months under a program approved by the regulatory authority. The establishment is contacted at least once every 6 months by telephone or other means by the regulatory authority to ensure that the establishment manager and the third-party inspection program have not changed.