This is a first part of the US food regulation series. We will try to understand the US food safety regulation mechanism and the role of relevant organizations such as FDA, FSIS etc. This series will be continued in future.
Let me start with federalism and the structure of US Government. The USA is a union of several sovereign States defined in the US Constitution. The framework for federal regulation, interstate commerce, individual and corporate freedoms and liberties etc are defined in the constitution. It establishes specific powers to the federal government and the States, based on the concept of federalism.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) are two primary food agencies of US regulating food safety. Other agencies or divisions such as National Marine Fisheries Services (NFMS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Homeland Security (DHS) take some minor responsibility for food safety as shown in figure. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) also helps in food safety indirectly by working to protect plant and animal resources from pests and diseases like bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or “mad cow” disease).
The FDA is under the department of health and human services. FDA has following different divisions.
Department of Health and Human Services
· Food and Drug Administration
The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) of FDA has a central role in food safety. It’s functions includes : (1) food safety research, (2) enforcement, (3) surveillance and compliance programs, (4) coordinating with state’s food safety activities, and (5) developing and implementing regulations, guidance documents and consumer safety information. The Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) is responsible for ensuring that animal feeds and drugs do not produce hazards to humans.
FSIS regulates meat and poultry sold for human consumption. FSIS does not inspect the establishment itself. Instead, FSIS evaluated each State’s inspection program to ensure it operates on a level “at least equal to” the FSIS inspection programs.
Other agencies having role in food safety are the National Marine Fisheries Services (NFMS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They work together with FDA and FSIS for ensuring food safety in US.
---------------end of part 1.
This series will be continued in future. Keep following this blog and give your feedback.
Let me start with federalism and the structure of US Government. The USA is a union of several sovereign States defined in the US Constitution. The framework for federal regulation, interstate commerce, individual and corporate freedoms and liberties etc are defined in the constitution. It establishes specific powers to the federal government and the States, based on the concept of federalism.
The FDA is under the department of health and human services. FDA has following different divisions.
Department of Health and Human Services
· Food and Drug Administration
- Office of the Commissioner
- Office of Operations
- Office of Policy, Planning, Legislation, and Analysis
- Office of Medical Products and Tobacco
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER)
- Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH)
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER)
- Oncology Center of Excellence (OCE)
- Center for Tobacco Products (CTP)
- Office of Foods and Veterinary Medicine
- Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM)
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN)
- Office of Global Regulatory Operations and Policy (GO)
- National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR)
- Office of Regulatory Affairs
The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) of FDA has a central role in food safety. It’s functions includes : (1) food safety research, (2) enforcement, (3) surveillance and compliance programs, (4) coordinating with state’s food safety activities, and (5) developing and implementing regulations, guidance documents and consumer safety information. The Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) is responsible for ensuring that animal feeds and drugs do not produce hazards to humans.
FSIS regulates meat and poultry sold for human consumption. FSIS does not inspect the establishment itself. Instead, FSIS evaluated each State’s inspection program to ensure it operates on a level “at least equal to” the FSIS inspection programs.
Other agencies having role in food safety are the National Marine Fisheries Services (NFMS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They work together with FDA and FSIS for ensuring food safety in US.
---------------end of part 1.
This series will be continued in future. Keep following this blog and give your feedback.
Related post to read
Federal Inspections and Law Enforcement Tools used by FDA (US Food Regulation series: Part 5)References
M. C. Sanchez, Food Law and Regulation for Non-Lawyers, Food Science Text Series, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-12472-8_2, © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015
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