Under a previous Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) developed a funding system in support of a National Integrated Food Safety System (IFSS). Project Goals for this new Cooperative Agreement include continuing to refine the subaward funding system that provides FDA subaward funding to state and territorial (ST) Grade ?A? Milk and Molluscan Shellfish regulatory programs in a fair and equitable manner, and in coordination with all of the important national partners that serve these programs. This goal will be accomplished by continuing to work through a joint advisory group that includes members from AFDO, FDA, the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS), and the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC). The joint advisory group will continue to refine and manage the funding system that distributes subawards to ST milk and shellfish regulatory programs, allowing them to attend FDA-approved training courses and to acquire necessary equipment that will lead to improved public health outcomes. Achieving project goals and objectives will support the advancement of an IFSS through the broad availability of financial and programmatic support for qualified programs. We further expect the project to promote continued goodwill between FDA, AFDO, NCIMS, ISSC and ST staff members through joint participation in a simple and straightforward funding process that distributes project funding broadly and fairly, and offers excellent technical assistance. Ultimately, the safety, security, and defense of the United States food supply will improve through the successful continuation of this project.
PROJECT NARRATVE This Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) project entitled Funding System to Support Milk and Shellfish Regulatory Programs, Years 4-8 is intended to facilitate long- term improvements to the national food safety system by assisting state and territorial (ST) milk and shellfish regulatory programs by: ? Communicating effectively, in coordination with all relevant partners, regarding the available FDA funding opportunities that support milk and shellfish programs, assuring that all eligible jurisdictions are equally aware of the opportunities; and ? Providing FDA subaward funding to qualified milk and shellfish regulatory agencies in a fair and equitable manner, enabling them to attend FDA-approved training courses and/or acquire necessary equipment that will improve public health outcomes. These goals will significantly advance a National Integrated Food Safety System and effectively fulfill the partnership requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
