CDFA, Inspection and Compliance Branch Conformance with the Produce Safety Rule Standards Project Summary/Abstract The mission of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), Inspection Services Division is to provide professional services that support and contribute to a safe, abundant, quality food supply, environmentally sound agricultural practices, and an equitable marketplace for California agriculture. The primary objectives of our proposal include: conducting a jurisdictional self-assessment regarding commodities covered under the Produce Safety Rule as well as determine available resources, including infrastructure, organizational structure, staffing, and financial resources; formulate a process to maintain and develop a farm inventory system; evaluate current legislative or regulatory authority; provide resources for, and invest in, the program's infrastructure; and, develop strategic multi-year plan to administer a new or enhanced produce safety program. Under this proposal we are requesting both Competition A and Competition B. Our request for Competition A includes, Year 1 through Year 5 and a request of $6,718,406. Starting in Year 2 through Year 5, we are requesting $4,386,018 for Competition B. The total grant funds requested from California over five years are $11,104,423. Grant funds will be used to perform an assessment of the program, establish a strategy to build new program capabilities, and provide the necessary infrastructure to execute the further development of the FSMA Produce Safety rule in California.
CDFA, Inspection and Compliance Branch Conformance with the Produce Safety Rule Standards Project Narrative The main goal of the proposed project is to further develop, enhance, and sustain the California Food Safety Program to full conformance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, & Holding of Produce for Human Consumption through short and long-term interagency collaborations, continued extensive cooperation and coordination with the FDA, other state and local agencies, and industry. These activities are intended to further enhance the State's Food Safety Program and its ability to reduce, prevent, and respond to food emergencies and better align it with a national integrated food safety system. Achieving the goal will better protect and improve the health of the public by assuring that food is produced safely and unadulterated.
