Many outbreaks of foodborne illness cross geographic or jurisdictional lines, requiring close inter-agency cooperation. FORC-G, the Foodborne Outbreak Response Coordinating Group, brings together federal, state, and local agencies to develop a comprehensive, coordinated, national foodborne illness outbreak response system. Specifically, FORC-G will * increase coordination and communication among these agencies and organizations; * help guide the efficient use of resources and expertise during an emergency; * and better prepare the United States to meet new and emerging threats to the food supply. FORC-G is co-chaired by the Department of Agriculture's Under Secretary for Food Safety and the Department of Health and Human Services' Assistant Secretary for Health. Other FORC-G members include representatives of the * Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; * Food and Drug Administration; * Food Safety and Inspection Service; * Environmental Protection Agency; * Association of Food and Drug Officials; * National Association of City and County Health Officials; * Association of State and Territorial Public Health Laboratory Directors; * Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists; and * National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. In January, 1997, President Clinton directed the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to identify specific steps to improve the safety of the food supply. Their May 1997 report to the President recommended the creation of FORC-G. # May 22, 1998 Clinton-Gore Administration Accomplishments in Food Safety October, 1997. President announces new initiative to enhance FDA oversight over imported foods and develop guidance on good agricultural and manufacturing practices for fruits and vegetables. October, 1997. Administration announces public-private partnership to promote food safety education, that includes the "Fight BAC" campaign . May, 1997. President announces comprehensive new initiative to improve the safety of the nation's food supply -- "Food Safety from Farm to Table"--detailing a $43 million food safety initiative program, including measures to improve surveillance, outbreak response, education, and research. January, 1997. President announces new Early-Warning System to gather critical scientific data to help stop food-borne disease outbreaks quickly and to improve prevention systems. January, 1997. Administration requires generic E.coli testing for all meat and poultry slaughter plants and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures. August, 1996. President signs Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996. The law requires drinking water systems to protect against dangerous contaminants like crytosporidium, and gives people the right to know about contaminants in their tap water. August, 1996. President signs Food Quality Protection Act of 1996, which streamlines regulation of pesticides by FDA and EPA and puts important new public-health protections in place, especially for children. July, 1996. President announces new regulations that modernize the nation's meat and poultry inspection system for the first time in 90 years. The HACCP systems approach emphasizes science-based controls and microbiological testing directly targeted at E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella. December, 1995. Administration issues new rules to ensure the safety of seafood using the HACCP regulatory approach. October, 1994. Administration declares E. coli O157:H7 an adulterant in raw ground beef and initiates a nationwide sampling program in federally inspected plants and retail stores that process ground beef. March, 1994. Administration requires safe handling and cooking labels on raw meat and poultry products.
This is a mirror of the page at HTTP://www.usda.gov:80/news/releases/1998/05/fsis