The North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services [NCDA&CS] Food &Drug Protection Division (Division) is comprised of a Food Program, Feed Program, DrugProgram and Laboratory. The Food Program is governed by and responsible for enforcement ofthe NC Food Drug & Cosmetic Act, the NC Dairy Laws and the NC Egg Law. The FeedProgram is responsible for the enforcement of the NC Commercial Feed Law. Both of theseprograms contract annually with FDA to conduct food and feed firm inspections in NC. TheLaboratory supports all regulatory actions conducted by the Food and Feed Programs. The Food,Feed and Laboratory Programs will all be included in the Rapid Response Team proposalpresented in this document. Below are the goals and criteria for the targeted in this proposalCriteria 1: Meet Program Goals as stated in the RFA Goal 1: Continue to the a development of all hazards Food/Feed Rapid Response Team (RRT) Goal 2: Implement the Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards (MFRPS) Goal 3: Performing manufactured food inspections within the parameters of the MFRPS Goal 4: Perform recalls and market withdrawals of as a result of food emergenciesCriteria 2: Provide evidence of the availability of adequately trained food and feed program staffand the criteria to hire and/or train personnel as defined in this proposal and methodology forprogram assessment, improvement, development and collaboration and the justification for hiringnew staff when the need was identified.Criteria 3: Provide evidence of the availability of adequately trained personnel to support theactivities required under this cooperative agreement and the agency commitment and support for thisproject including the further development and implementation of a Rapid Response Team andsupporting infrastructure. Outline rapid response capabilities and the plan to incorporate the RRTinto the existing programCriteria 4: Provide a detailed description of the current food and feed regulatory programsincluding current funding level certification for food and feed safety programs.Criteria 5: Provide a detailed two-year budget to implement the RRT and enhance the foodprotection program in the state and the nation.
PubicHeathReevanceStatement The NCDA&CS Food and Drug Protection Division strives to protect the food supply and public health through education and outreach, inter-agency cooperation and communication, as well as by providing comprehensive manufacturing and retail inspections. The Rapid Response Team became an important tool in complementing our program. Its implementation has greatly enhanced North Carolina's ability to prevent, detect, respond, mitigate and recover from occasions where our food supply, human or animal, intentional or unintentional, was compromised.
