FDA to rely on food safety expertise in other countries

02/28/2013 3:45:59 PM
Tom Karst

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a new plan to help build up the food safety systems of U.S. trading partners.

The FDA said the plan addresses elements required under the Food Safety Modernization Act. The FDA must create a plan to expand scientific and regulatory food safety capacity of foreign governments and food industries in those countries. That involves electronic data sharing, mutual recognition of inspection reports and training of foreign officials and food producers on U.S. food safety laws. Lab processes and pathogen detection techniques must also be standardized.

Goals of the plan include creating efficiencies within the FDA, increasing the exchange of information between countries and providing technical assistance, according to a news release from FDA.

Training, technical exchanges, development of international food safety standards are already under way, according to the release. The agency has opened offices in China, India, Latin America, Africa, the Middle east and the Asia Pacific.

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We are spending tax dollars to "build up the safety systems" of other countries? Set the food safety standards and let them comply or not sell to the US. Does the EU set up offices in the US to teach us how to comply with thier food safety standards? More wasteful federal spending.