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U.S. Department of Agriculture |
Department of Health and Human Services |
Environmental Protection Agency |
Department of Commerce |
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U.S. Department of Agriculture |
Department of Health and Human Services |
Environmental Protection Agency |
Department of Commerce |
INTRODUCTION
On January 25, 1997, the President announced his food safety initiative. He directed the Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to identify ways to further improve the safety of the food supply. Those agencies held public meetings with consumers, producers, industry, states, universities, and the public, and reported back to the President. The Report, issued in May 1997, was entitled Food Safety from Farm to Table: A National Food-Safety Initiative. To implement the recommendations in the report, USDA and HHS submitted joint budget requests for pathogen research, surveillance, risk assessment, inspection, and education for FY 98, FY 99 and FY 2000. Through this initiative, and other activities, HHS, USDA, and EPA have laid the groundwork for a strategic planning effort. In the May 1997 report, the agencies recommended a longer-term strategic planning effort to consider how to best address important challenges and make the best use of the agencies' limited resources.
The President's Council on Food Safety was established in August 1998 under E.O. 13100 to strengthen and focus our efforts to coordinate food safety policy and resources. The Council was directed to: 1) develop a comprehensive strategic Federal food safety plan; 2) advise agencies of priority areas for investment in food safety and ensure that Federal agencies annually develop coordinated food safety budgets for submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB); and 3) ensure that the Joint Institute for Food Safety Research (JIFSR) establishes mechanisms to guide Federal research efforts toward the highest priority food safety needs.
A coordinated food safety strategic planning effort is needed to build on common ground and to tackle some of the difficult public health, resource, and management questions facing Federal food safety agencies. The strategic plan will focus on not just microbial contamination but the full range of issues that are discussed in the paper on the Scope of the Council's Comprehensive Strategic Food Safety Plan. It will also identify actions necessary to ensure the safety of the food Americans consume. The goal is to develop a comprehensive strategic long-range plan that addresses the steps necessary to achieve a seamless food safety system including key public health, resource, and management issues regarding food safety. The plan will be used to set priorities, improve coordination and efficiency, identify gaps in the current system and mechanisms to fill those gaps, continue to enhance and strengthen prevention and intervention strategies, and develop performance measures to show progress. Each agency will incorporate the relevant parts of the strategic plan into its Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) strategic plan, commensurate with its budget.
In developing the strategic plan, the Council will consult with all interested parties and will consider both short-term and long-term issues including new and emerging threats, and the special needs of vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.
Additionally, at the request of Congress, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) conducted a study of the current food safety system to: 1) determine the scientific basis of an effective food safety system; 2) assess the effectiveness of the current system; 3) identify scientific and organizational needs and gaps; and 4) provide recommendations on scientific and organizational changes needed to ensure an effective food safety system. The NAS released its findings, conclusions, and recommendations in an August 20, 1998 report, Ensuring Safe Food from Production to Consumption. In an August 1998 Memorandum, the President directed the Council to review and report back to him on its assessment of the NAS report.
Other documents on this web site from the December 16, 1998 Council meeting include: 1) the Charter for the President's Council on Food Safety, 2) the Process for preparing an Assessment of the NAS Report, and 3) Process for developing a Food Safety Strategic Plan for all Federal food safety agencies. The Council met December 16, 1998, to discuss and adopt the recommendations contained in these papers.
Additional information on the President's Council On Food Safety has been posted on this site, which will be updated periodically. Links to other food safety sites also are provided. Comments and questions can be directed to Steve Teasley at steasley@usda.gov.
