Ohio Department of AgricultureDivision of Food SafetyProject Summary/AbstractThe goal of this proposal is to acquire the needed monetary support to achieve and maintain fullconformance with Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards (MFRPS).Implementation the program's standards by Ohio Department of Agriculture, Division of FoodSafety (ODA DFS) will enhance food safety by establishing a uniform, efficient, and effectiveregulatory program, which in turn, will result in the attainment of a safer food supply, wherebyreducing incidence of food borne illness..The first step began in August 2011 when ODA DFS added an option in our state contract toparticipate in the MFRPS. Currently ODA DFS is conducting a comprehensive self-assessmentand developing an improvement plan for each standard. The improvement plans will bring ODADFS into conformance with the FDA's food standards.Implementation of the improvement plans will require the addition of staff both long term andshort term. A legal intern will be utilized to facilitate writing rules which will be in line with FDA'sCFRs. A compliance/training officer position will be added in year three while field staff will beadded in years three and five. In addition to staff ODA DFS will be developing andimplementing a new database that will incorporate the entire inspection process. The databasewill encompass firm information; risk assessment; inspections; inspection notification; issuing ofembargoes, voluntary destructions and notices; sampling; and tracking of all employee training.The database will be developed so that test results can be downloaded directly from our lab andthe database will allow for sharing information with the FDA. ODA FS will also be strengtheningour sampling surveillance program by sharing the cost of two new pieces of equipment for ourlab.ODA DFS will continue to receive state funding at the current level as well as receiving revenuegenerated from licensing. These funding streams will allow the grant money to be usedexclusively to bring the program into conformance to the FDA MFRPS.
Ohio Department of Agriculture Division of Food Safety Public Health Relevance Statement Conformance to the MFRPS will allow Federal and State manufactured food regulatory programs to better direct their regulatory activities toward reducing foodborne illness hazards in food plants. Consequently, the safety and security of the United States food supply will improve.
