Conformance with the Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards (U18) - RFA-FD-12-007Illinois Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards Project Summary/Abstract - April 16, 2012The Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards (MFRPS) are based on science and moderntechnology systems, identifying the best food safety regulatory practices necessary for a high-qualityregulatory program. While Illinois is in its third year of a three-year contract with the U.S. Food andDrug Administration (FDA) for manufactured food inspections and has operated a food processingprogram for over 35 years, these standards will identify specific performance measures and elementsto evaluate the effectiveness of the Illinois manufactured food processing program and the overallfood safety in Illinois, matching Illinois with its states' counterparts and allowing for improved federalassessment and comparison state-to-state.Accordingly, Illinois has strategized in concert with the MFRPS guidance to meet several of thestandards by year three (3) with the intent of implementing a corrective action plan to assess statusand develop realistic interventions to achieve the remaining standards. This meets the FDA'sexpectation of full use and implementation of the program standards taking several years. Illinois'approach involves not only the overarching and tactical strategy to achieve the MFRPS but also thecompletion of an initial baseline assessment and third-year follow-up assessment with subsequentimprovement plans for continual progress towards conformance with the standards.By and large, Illinois' implementation of the MFRPS will ensure food safety confidence for consumers,increase protection of public health foodborne illness, build the capacity and credibility of the Illinoisfood safety system, create an integrated, national food safety system, establish a practical frameworkfor determining the factors of a high-quality State food safety program, and strengthen the partnershipbetween FDA and Illinois and its States' counterparts. Utilization of the principles of continuousquality improvement and execution of the organizational management philosophy exclusive to theIllinois MFRPS strategy will strongly enhance Illinois' existing 35-year food processing program andits food processing industry - putting Illinois at the national forefront of food safety and protection.
Statement: Through the significant improvement of the Illinois Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards and increased concentration on regulatory activities relational to food borne illness hazards in food processing plants, the food supply with which Illinois is responsible will be safer and more secure. The basis of the Illinois Manufactured Food Regulatory Program - enforcing food processing laws and regulations through inspection, assuring food safety and security through continual inspection reporting and follow-up, and evaluating regulatory functions to best inform and educate Illinois food protection stakeholders - supports the public health services fundamental framework.
