Discipline: Chemistry Analytical Track 2: Human Food Product Testing Project Summary/Abstract: The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Food Safety Laboratories achieved accreditation in 2007 and maintains A2LA accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for the specific tests listed in A2LA certificates 2534.01, 2534.02 and 2534.03 (available at www.A2LA.org). The Division of Food Safety is directly responsible for assuring the public of a safe, wholesome and properly represented food supply. This is accomplished through the permitting and inspection of food establishments; inspection and evaluation of food and dairy products; and the performance of biological and chemical laboratory testing on a variety of food and dairy products sold and/or produced in Florida. The division monitors food and dairy products from manufacturing through distribution to retail sale. In addition to regulatory surveillance and enforcement, the Division evaluates consumer complaints related to food. The Division has the responsibility for carrying out its duties or support functions as directed by the following Florida Statutes Chapters: 500, 502, 583, 586, and 601. As the primary regulatory food testing laboratory for Florida the FDACS Division of Food Safety Laboratories work with our Division's Bureau of Food Inspection to conduct microbiological and chemical food analyses on behalf of the state?s manufactured food regulatory programs (MFRPS). These analyses are conducted within the scope of our ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. The Division of Food Safety Laboratories are applying for the Funding Opportunity titled: Laboratory Flexible Funding Model (LFFM), announcement number PAR-20-105, with anticipation of funding from 2020 through 2025 for enhancing the capacity and capabilities of state human food testing in the area of chemistry. The Laboratories have actively participated in the project titled Maintaining and Enhancing Accreditation at the Florida Bureau of Food Laboratories continuously since 2012 and have been a funded member of the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) CAP laboratories continuously since 2004. The Division of Food Safety Laboratories are willing and able to participate in this opportunity, and are fully committed to increasing the analytical capacity of our nation?s food testing regulatory laboratories under accreditation, increasing our ability to share laboratory results to promote earlier identification and regulatory response to adulterants in the food supply, and advancement of a nationally integrated food safety system thereby enhancing efforts to protect the food supply and work toward ensuring the public?s health.
Project Narrative: Do not complete. Note: ASSIST screens will show an asterisk for this attachment indicating it is required. However, eRA systems only enforce this requirement in the Overall component and applications will not receive an error if omitted in other components.
