Wisconsin's Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection(DATCP) requests $300,000 for each of the next five years to achieve fullconformance with the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) ManufacturedFood Regulatory Program Standards (MFRPS) program. FDA developed theMFRPS program as a tool to promote uniformity and cooperation betweenfederal, state and local agencies responsible for regulating manufactured foodestablishments.The Bureau of Food Safety first enrolled in the MFRPS program in 2007 as one offive states to pilot the standards. The Bureau completed an initial baselineassessment, developed a strategic improvement plan, and participated in an FDAProgram Assessment Validation Audit (PAVA). This five-year cooperativeagreement will allow Wisconsin to continue its efforts to implement its strategicimprovement plan and achieve full-conformance with the standards throughsuch tasks as: Revising policies and procedures, such as those for responding to consumer complaints and food emergencies; Establishing a quality assurance system that includes annual program audits of inspection reports, field inspections, and sampling, and an annual performance review of the compliance system; and Improving and integrating data systems and training staff in the use of data to ensure staff have access to the information they need to conduct effective inspections.In addition, Wisconsin will actively participate in MFRPS meetings, training, andaudits to share information with other regulatory agencies.
Several recent high-profile multi-state foodborne illness outbreaks highlighted the need for federal, state and local food safety agencies to work together to prevent and respond to threats to the nation's food supply. FDA developed the Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards as one tool for promoting consistency and cooperation between federal and state agencies responsible for inspecting manufactured food establishments. Conformance with the standards ensures that participating states have the structure and capacity to protect public health by effectively preventing and responding to foodborne illness outbreaks associated with manufactured food.
