The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today launched a national program to bring about the adoption of more uniform, equivalent, and high quality regulatory programs by state agencies responsible for regulating facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food under FDA's jurisdiction.

"This risk-based program represents a significant step in further integrating our food safety system," said Margaret O'K. Glavin, FDA's associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. "We realize it will be several years before it's fully implemented, but we're confident this program will bring great benefits to the public health."

Currently, programmatic activities can vary from state to state and such variations can lead to inconsistencies in oversight of food safety. Adoption of voluntary standards for state regulatory programs will establish a uniform basis for measuring and improving the performance of state programs for regulating manufactured food and help the state and federal authorities reduce foodborne illness hazards in food facilities.