The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) members, the state commissioners, secretaries and directors of agriculture, hand-selected 9 issues to serve as the organization’s primary policy focus for 2022.

The plan is designed to help the FDA and its partners enhance the speed, effectiveness, coordination and communication of foodborne outbreak investigations. 

USDA's NIFA announced an investment of $10 million for 21 grants to develop and implement food safety and Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)-related training, education, extension outreach and technical assistance for food processors and farmers with small to mid-size operations.

COVID-19 has re-affirmed the need for design changes in food plants to help prevent spread. Processors are also re-evaluating their facilities’ security readiness.

The FDA released its annual Inspection Observation Data for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, and once again the data shows an increase year-by-year since 2017 of violations on the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVPs).

Frank Yiannas, deputy commissioner for Food Policy and Response at FDA, talks about the last 10 years for FSMA as well as what lies ahead.

The FDA has extended the comment period for the proposed rule entitled “Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods” and reopened the comment period for the information collection provisions until Feb. 22, 2021.