1. An Integrated Food Safety System When Will You Know it is Here ?
Joseph Corby
June 12, 2013
Introduce module

2. What is Integration? Not very clear?
Many types - (Racial, Social, Horizontal, Vertical, Data, Systems, and Technology)
Generally means combining parts so they work together or form a whole
A systematic coordination of food protection functions
Clarify what integration is as there is widespread confusion about this concept.
Wherever the word is used, however, it generally invokes something good and positive as with racial integration, etc.
Integration may be localized or national.
An example of horizontal integration would be an oil company which has oil refineries in a number of different areas all refining oil. An example of vertical integration would be a number of different auto parts manufacturers throughout the country that ship these parts to one location where they are assembled. Data integration is an effort to put all different types of data together. There are integration efforts with systems and technology to take multiple things and merge them into one.
Some may be familiar with “Integrated Pest Management”
Term means combining parts so they work together or form a whole. Discuss the slight differences in the definition – combine parts OR form a whole
The key is to work together.

3. Integrated Food Safety System (IFSS)
Jointly developed and implemented surveillance, inspection, and enforcement programs
Benefits:
Increased ability to assess potential risks at domestic food facilities
More consistent coverage of these facilities across the entire food supply chain
Greater food surveillance through integration of food facility inspection information
Improved rapid response capacity and efficiency
Outcome: Increased public health protection
What is Federal-State Integration?
Working with our State, local, and tribal partners to develop and implement an inspection and enforcement program to ensure high rates of compliance with the Agency’s food safety standards
It will require significant work with our State partners through work-planning and training to ensure the best utilization of resources
An integrated system will result in more coordinated response efforts to better leverage resources and to respond to multi-State outbreaks when they occur
We have funded State Rapid Response Teams to develop Rapid Response processes
Collaborating with our State partners, FDA will continue to build an Integrated Food Safety System (IFSS)
Benefits of an Integrated Food Safety System
Increased ability to assess potential risks at domestic food facilities
More consistent coverage of these facilities across the entire food supply chain
Greater food surveillance through integration of food facility inspection information
Improved rapid response capacity and efficiency

4. Assessing the Current Food Safety System
4,619,256 Inspections
55,882 Investigations
170,509 Enforcement Actions
1,244 Recalls Coordinated
394,070 Samples Collected and Tested
[AFDO Resource Survey 2009]
The “Iceberg” depicts our food safety system. Federal government work represents the tip and states and locals the remaining portion underwater.
Most of the funding today is going at the top [federal] level when most of the work is performed at the state/local level below.
FDA getting added resources and authorities but could never do all the food safety work performed by state and local entities.
AFDO Resource Survey for 2008 indicated 4,619,256 Inspections, 55,882 Investigations, 170,509 Enforcement Actions, 1,244 Recalls Coordinated, and
394,070 Samples Collected and Tested by state and local agencies.
FSMA validates the desire and need to integrate the system
Doesn’t it make sense that integration can improve our efforts to improve food safety and public health?

5. How Well are We Integrated Today?
14 Federal Agencies and 71 Agreements
Multiple State Agencies = 75
County, City, and Townships = 2800
Is Integration Practical?
Discuss the fragmentation in our food safety system that exists at all levels.
There are 14 federal agencies which have 71 mutual agreements among them relating to food safety.
There are about 75 state agencies that perform food safety inspection work and many others which play parts in this effort.
There are approximately 2800 County city and townships with food safety agencies.
Some may suggest integration is not practical – its pie in the sky – it would require dismantling the many empires that have been created within government.
Integration would require changing cultures that are difficult to change.

6. Where to Begin?
351 Health agencies spread out among state, county, city, and township
Where do we begin to build an integrated system?
To illustrate the complexity for integration, one can look at the state of Massachusetts. There are 351 health agencies spread out among State County city and Township within this little state. How does one go about integrating food safety efforts with so many agencies existing? Every one of these 351 health agencies play a role in our nation’s food protection system and a full integration is what we wish to accomplish, then this state illustrates how huge this task is.

7. Where to Begin? Share inspection and laboratory results
Strategic work planning
FSMA
Partnership for Food Protection
APHL/AFDO/AAFCO Agreement

8. Success Stories

9. When Will You Know it is Here
Industry
Academia
Consumers
Government

10. Where Do You Fit In?