Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) FDA Science Board Advisory Committee Meeting November 6, 2003 Carl J. Sciacchitano Office of Regulatory Affairs/Division of Field Science

2 Mission of FERN  Integrate the nation’s food-testing laboratories for the detection of threat agents in food at the local, state, and federal levels.  Detection of biological, chemical and radiological agents.

3 FERN Objectives  Prevention – federal/state surveillance sampling programs  Preparedness – strengthening lab capabilities/capacities  Response – surge capacity  Recovery – provide assurance to the consumer

4 Directive from the Interagency Food Working Group  Build an integrated network of food testing laboratories  Cooperate with federal and state partners  Do it now!

5 Food Laboratories are Mission-Critical Resources OutbreakInvestigation RoutineSurveillance RegulatoryCompliance MethodValidation EmergencyResponse Training Food Laboratories: Environmental Veterinary Diagnostic Agricultural Clinical Federal ConsumerComplaints CTSurveillance ProficiencyTesting

6 FERN Structure Regional Coordination Centers

7 FERN Steering Committee Members  Federal  HHS, FDA-ORA, FDA-CFSAN, CDC  USDA-FSIS, USDA-APHIS, USDA-AMS, USDA-GIPSA,  US Customs, DoD, FBI, EPA  State  Agriculture  Public Health  Veterinary Diagnostic FERN Structure: Steering Committee

8 FERN Steering Committee Responsibilities  Develop FERN guidelines, policies and procedures  Coordinate, integrate and develop national resources to support FERN  Oversee FERN National Operations Center  Provide guidance to FERN Support Programs FERN Structure: Steering Committee

9 FERN National Operations Center - Responsibilities  Responsible for day to day operation of FERN  Operated by full time staff  Reports to FERN Steering Committee  Oversee implementation of policies/procedures  Coordinate Regional Coordination Center (RCC) activities  Manage and coordinate FERN Support Programs  Coordinate meetings of FERN components  Coordinate communications  Evaluate needs/capabilities  Develop/propose budget to Steering Committee  Conduct exercises  Coordinate emergency response FERN Structure: National Operations Center

10 FERN Support Programs – Sub-committees  Training  Proficiency Testing  Method Development/Validation  Surveillance  Electronic communication FERN Structure: Support Programs

11 Training Performed  BSL-3 Rapid ID Methods for the Detection of B. anthracis, October 2002  BSL-3 Food Enrichment Techniques for the Detection of B. anthracis, October 2002  Food Sample Preparation and Organism Enrichment Methods for BSL-3 Labs, December state participants  BSL-3 Rapid ID Methods and Food Enrichment Techniques for the Detection of B. anthracis, January state participants  BSL-3 Yersinia pestis, Francisella tularensis, and B. anthracis training course, February 2003  BSL-3 Rapid ID and food Enrichment Techniques for the Detection of B. anthracis Train the Trainer course, May 2003  Clostridium botulinum toxin training collaborations with the ORA U, CFSAN Staff College, and the CDC-May and July 2003 (32 state and federal participants)

12 Regional Coordination Centers (RCCs) - Overview  Consists of representatives from laboratory communities  Staffed by FDA, USDA, and others?  Possibility of “virtual hubs”  Two RCCs initially; five RCCs total FERN Structure: Regional Coordination Centers (RCCs)

13 RCCs - Responsibilities  Identify volunteer laboratories  Determine capabilities and needs of laboratories  Ensure adequate screening, confirmatory and forensic capacity  Coordinate response of laboratories during an emergency  Coordinate surveillance sampling programs  Communicate with Operations Center  Coordinate with FERN support programs  Provide quality assurance oversight  Identify needs and convey to Operations Center  Conduct exercises and coordinate reporting of results  Coordinate with key non- laboratory stakeholders FERN Structure: RCCs

14 Collection and Storage of FERN Related Data  We must find a way to store and maintain data from this project including:  Surveillance sample analysis results  Proficiency sample analysis results  Results from any samples collected during an actual bioterrorism event  The data capture mechanism for the FERN is the Electronic Laboratory Exchange Network (eLEXNET)

15 Food Laboratories and the National Food Safety and Security System Agricultural production & processing Storage & transport of raw commodities Processing & manufacturing Storage & Transport of products Consumption Food service & preparation Wholesale & retail distribution Supporting Agencies and Systems Food Testing Laboratories Federal State Local EPA USDA Customs CDCFDADoD Public Health AgricultureEnvironmental Law Enforcement DOT Veterinary Diagnostic Inspection Imports Activities ResearchEducation Adverse Events Firm and Product Registration Quality Assurance Clinical Consumer Protection

16 eLEXNET Overview  What is it?  An integrated, secure system designed for multiple government agencies involved in food safety activities  The necessary infrastructure for an early warning system that identifies potentially hazardous foods and enables health officials to assess risks and analyze trends  Who is participating?  Federal laboratories (USDA/FSIS, FDA, Department of Defense-VETCOM)  State Public Health, Agriculture and Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories  Local Laboratories

17 eLEXNET Data  Aflatoxin B1, B2  Listeria spp.  Bacillus cereus  Salmonella spp.  Lasalocid  Vibrio fluvialis  Campylobacter spp.  Campylobacter jejuni  Decoquinate  Listeria monocytogenes  from over 55 food testing laboratories, including FDA, USDA, DoD VETCOM, as well as state agriculture, environmental, and public health …  and more than 40 product industry categories: Cheese/cheese products, Fishery/seafood products, Fruit/fruit products …  and over 16,500 imported products tested.  Staphylococcus aureus  Shigella spp.  Sulfathiazole  Vibrio parahaemolyticus  Escherichia coli (Typical)  Escherichia coli, Enterohemorrhagic (EHEC)  Penicillin G Procaine  Penicillin G Benzathine  Chlortetracycline eLEXNET provides states with unprecedented, free access to food testing data from USDA, FDA, DoD, and state and local laboratories. Over 160,000 sample test records are in eLEXNET:

18 eLEXNET’s GIS Reporting Functions Report Parameters: Salmonella Cheese/Cheese Products All Laboratories All States August 2002 to present

19 What’s Happening in your Region? Listeria in the Central Region (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin) in 2001

20 National Food Laboratory Directory

21 National Food Laboratory Directory: Map view results of State, Lab Function search (drill down to Florida)

22 An Integrated National Laboratory Infrastructure NAHLN IT System: Animal Disease Test Results eLEXNET: Food Pathogen Test Results National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) Laboratory Capability and Capacity Programs Secure Data Exchange of Laboratory Test Results Shared System Modules Methods Repository Laboratory Directory HL7 Data Exchange

23 An Integrated National Laboratory Infrastructure, Future NAHLN IT System: Animal Disease Test Results eLEXNET: Food Pathogen Test Results NAHLNFERN Laboratory Capability and Capacity Programs Secure Data Exchange of Laboratory Test Results Shared System Modules Methods Repository Laboratory Directory HL7 Data Exchange Environmental Programs Other Lab Programs … Other Common Laboratory Functions … Other Laboratory Test Results Soil and Water Test Results

24 Next Steps for FERN  Resources  Expand FERN Capacity/Capability  Continue to communicate/collaborate with other networks  Continue Sub-Committee Activities  Develop food surveillance/proficiency sampling programs  Develop validated biological, chemical, and radiological methods for food  Develop and prioritize training plans  eLEXNET expansion