This proposal seeks to shift current regulatory risk management of food safety incidentsinvolving recalls by developing a manual of best practices through a multi-nationalmeeting of risk managers who convene at the Codex Committee for Latin America andthe Caribbean (CCLAC). This effort, combined with graduate level distance coursesoffered as part of a Regulatory Science in Food Systems graduate certificate andcontinuing education models and a web-based management information system fortracking recalled product in the Caribbean Basin including Texas and in Latin Americanoffers an innovative approach to enhance food safety found in Section 210 of the FoodSafety Modernization Act.The project augments 'but does not duplicate' efforts including the Texas All HazardsRapid Response Team involving the Office of the Texas State Chemist, TexasDepartment of State Health Services, Dallas District Regional Office of FDA andSouthwest Import District of FDA. A recall training component will be developed inconjunction with the Texas A&M University REGULATORY SCIENCE IN FOODSYSTEMS graduate certificate program. Specifically, recall will be incorporated in acourse titled Regulatory Science Methodology in Food Systems scheduled forcompletion/delivery in the fall semester of 2013. The web-based framework andmanagement system for the Regulatory Science program will be developed by aninstructional media specialist.As an outcome of this project, improved recall management of products originating fromthe Caribbean and Latin American countries and Texas will occur including improvedcommunication, data sharing, product disposition and more rapid response to feed andfood safety events. Subject matter specialists from these regions of the world will betrained through the Regulatory Science curriculum to extend Recall Best Practices andsoftware user training. This project seeks to leverage prior investments by FDA, USDA,Codex Alimentarius trust fund, World Health Organization, Food and AgricultureOrganization, Caribbean and Latin American food safety authorities, Office of the TexasState Chemist, and Texas A&M resources to improve the capacity and capability toimprove recall effectiveness.
The goal of this project is to facilitate long-term improvement to the national food safety system by building the capacity and capability of food safety entities to take appropriate action, including planning and preparing to implement product recall in response to a food safety event originating in the Caribbean Basin including Texas and in Latin America. As an outcome of this project, improved recall management of products originating from the Caribbean and Latin American countries and Texas will occur including improved communication, data sharing, product disposition and more rapid response to feed and food safety events. Subject matter specialists from these regions of the world will be trained through the Regulatory Science curriculum to extend Recall Best Practices and software user training.
