The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reportedly planning to end its routine food safety inspections and outsource this oversight work to state and local authorities. The plans, which have not been finalized, would effectively free up resources for higher-priority and foreign inspections.
According to federal health officials, the majority of current routine food safety inspections are already outsourced to states through contracts with 43 states and Puerto Rico. However, some lower-risk inspections would still be conducted by the FDA.
The shift in responsibility could help alleviate a backlog of inspections overseas and in other markets, as well as reduce costs associated with managing two separate systems. States can often conduct inspections at a lower cost while meeting similar standards.
Industry experts and advocacy groups have long argued that states should take on routine food inspection work due to its lower costs and the quality of state-led inspections. The FDA has already implemented such programs for produce farms, where it partners with most states to conduct local agriculture department-inspected produce.
However, some experts caution that transitioning food inspections away from the FDA would require significant time and resources. Critics also express concerns about potential lapses in oversight, particularly when it comes to higher-risk inspections and foreign facilities.
The plans come as the FDA faces staffing challenges, including steep layoffs of support staff. The agency has hired contractors to try to plug the gap left by these losses.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-food-safety-inspections-plans