Change in administration brings challenges, opportunities

The tumultuous exit of Republican President Donald Trump from the White House and the beginning of a new Democratic administration with President Joe Biden isn’t expected to have any immediate ramifications for produce safety policies at the Food and Drug Administration.

Beyond the FDA’s pending produce traceability regulation — comments are due in late February for that rule — the proposed agriculture water rule also is now at the Office of Management and Budget, said Jennifer McEntire, vice president of food safety for the United Fresh Produce Association.

There are some uncertainties about the rule, she said.

“When is it going to come out? What is it going to look like?” McEntire said.  "Food safety is generally a bipartisan issue so we’re hopeful that we’re able to just kind of continue down the path that we have had, maintaining relationships with FDA and the CDC.  I’m hoping that we don’t see a whole lot of disruption just due to the change in administration. I wouldn’t anticipate that.”

While relationships between industry and federal regulators are productive, Max Teplitski, chief science officer for the Produce Marketing Association, said there is still a “long way to go” to establish a culture of trust between industry and regulators.

“Especially now, during the transition to the new administration, there is a great new opportunity to engender and institutionalize this trust,” he said. 

Both industry and government regulators are “pieces in the puzzle” that are necessary for that culture of trust, he said.

“It is critical that we all come to the table, and we’re willing to put our pieces of the puzzle together,” he said. 

“I think there is a critical need to continue to nurture that relationship and to continue to develop trust between the regulators and the industry.”