FDA and Homeland Security Announce New Food Safety Initiatives
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has opened a post in Mexico City and the Department of Homeland Security has created a new center in Washington, D.C., devoted to ensuring the safety of foods imported to the United States.
The moves are in keeping with the Obama Administration's focus on protecting Americans from disease wrought by contaminated food.
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Homeland Security's Commercial Targeting and Analysis Center (CTAC) for Import Safety is operating under the direction of Customs and Border Protection. It was created on the recommendation of President Obama’s Food Safety Working Group, which had promised new ventures of cooperation between federal agencies.
The CTAC will specifically target shipments of imported cargo, including food, for possible safety violations. Its partners providing on-site expertise will include the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the FDA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
FDA's new Mexico City operation is the 10th international post and third to open in Latin America. Mexico provides one third of fresh fruit and vegetables consumed in the United States.
Dr. Margaret Hamburg, Obama's appointee to head FDA, said in an agency news release that the office will be mutually beneficial to both countries. Staff will work with local industries that ship food and medical products to the U.S. to improve their understanding of quality demands.
There are other plans for the office to collaborate with Mexican officials on the use of the latest laboratory and preventative food safety techniques, the press release said.
