FBI Workshop Offers Food Defense Rule Certification
By Sam Lewis
FSMA’s Food Defense Rule establishes requirements for companies to create a food defense plan aimed at preventing intentional adulteration from acts intended to cause wide-spread harm to public health. The rule requires food companies to create and maintain a written food defense plan assessing all of their vulnerabilities and implement mitigation strategies to address these vulnerabilities. Because of this rule setting a new precedent, many companies are unsure of what is expected of them and how to successfully implement changes for compliance. Here Daniel Sturgill, weapons of mass destruction coordinator with the FBI, answers my question on food defense awareness, prevention, and response times. Sturgill will be hosting the FBI Food Defense TTX and Workshop at 2016’s AAFP annual conference held Sept. 15, 2016 in Fayetteville, AR. Attendees will learn about the Food Defense Rule, how to implement necessary changes for compliance with it, and can attain FBI certification at the workshop.
Food Online: How can public health agencies, law enforcement, regulatory bodies, and the private sector create partnerships to improve defense?
Sturgill: Partnerships between Food Defense stakeholders can be achieved in a variety of ways. For instance, the attendance of all stakeholders listed above to trainings and TTX’s sponsored by various stakeholders enhance liaison efforts and build a better understanding of everyone’s capabilities, roles, and responsibilities. By taking part in each other’s training, you build relationships that otherwise wouldn’t of been developed. Communication is the key. Talk to your partners on a regular basis to make sure you are aware of the latest developments or issues pertaining to Food Defense. The effort you put in ahead of an intentional contamination incident will enhance your collaborative efforts post incident.
Food Online: What are the basic concepts of food defense? How can the industry increase awareness of them?
Sturgill: The FBI defines Food Defense as the protection of the food supply from an intentional contamination with any material for the purpose of causing harm. Awareness can be increased by industry reaching out to their law enforcement, public health, and regulatory partners to establish an open dialogue while preparing and planning for intentional food contamination incidents. Establishing a Food Defense plan is strongly recommended.
Food Online: What can the industry be doing right now to become compliant with FSMA’s Food Defense rule?
Sturgill: It is recommended to become acquainted with the new rule via the FDA website and establish a plan to become compliant within the time period allowed for compliance depending on business size. A lot of time is given for compliance (up to three years) so developing a plan early to prevent a last minute scramble is recommended.
Food Online: What resources are available for poultry processors to find best practices for food defense awareness, prevention, and response time and to begin implementing them?
Sturgill: The FDA’s website has numerous resources for awareness of regulatory guidelines — and suggestions to comply with them — for all of FSMA’s rules, including Food Defense. In addition to the FDA’s website, there are various educational opportunities for members of the poultry industry. Notably, I will be hosting the FBI Food Defense TTX and Workshop at 2016’s AAFP annual conference in Fayetteville, AR on Sept. 15.