Common Themes
On June 24 and 25, 1998, the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) held a public meeting to solicit input on establishment of program priorities. Dr. Michael A. Friedman, Acting FDA Commissioner, opened the meeting and provided an agencywide perspective on establishment of program priorities. Joseph A. Levitt, CFSAN Director, spoke about the decline of resources in the Center since 1978, the year in which resources were at a peak, and the increase in statutory responsibilities during that same time. Accordingly, given the gap between resource availability and reasonable work product expectations, Mr. Levitt stated there was a clear need to set program priorities. Mr. Levitt emphasized that the priority-setting process needed to be open and participatory. Throughout the process, he stressed the importance of keeping focused on where we do the most good for consumers.
Oral comments were received at the two-day meeting from individuals representing 23 organizations. In addition, the public docket (98N-0359) remained open after the meeting for the submission of written comments. In all, the Center received input from a total of 38 individuals representing consumers and consumer groups; states and state officials; food, produce, and cosmetic trade associations; food and color additive associations; health professional organizations; the dietary supplement and infant formula industries; food technologists; a food packaging company; and a food manufacturing company. Documents summarizing both the oral presentations and written submissions are available on CFSAN's web page (http://www.cfsan.fda.gov).
With respect to priorities, four program issues were commonly identified by respondents:
Other areas of interest expressed by several respondents include the following:
Finally, many commenters stated that CFSAN needs additional resources to implement the breadth of its statutory responsibilities and urged FDA to seek the necessary funding from the Congress.
The Center will incorporate input on program priorities gleaned from the public meeting and the written docket as it proceeds with its FY 99 Planning Process.
Dear (see addressees below):
Thank you for participating in the Center's June 24 - 25 priority-setting meeting. I was very pleased with both the quantity and quality of input we received on CFSAN program priorities. We are currently incorporating the input into our Fiscal Year 1999 Planning Process. The goal of the Planning Process is to establish program priorities and to allocate resources consistent with those priorities, by October 1, the beginning of fiscal year 1999. You can expect to hear more about Center priorities later this fall.
As I noted during the meeting, summaries of both the oral presentations and the written submissions to the public docket are available on the Center's web page (www.cfsan.fda.gov). In addition, enclosed with this letter is a summary of program issues and areas of interest that were commonly identified by respondents for top Center priority.
Thank you again for participating in the public meeting.
Sincerely,
Joseph A. Levitt |
Addresses
Joseph Corby
President
Association of Food and Drug Officials
P.O. Box 3425
York, PA 17402
Ken Moore
Executive Director
Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference
115 Atrium Way, Suite 117
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
Bob Garfield
Vice President, Regulatory and Technical Affairs
American Frozen Food Institute
2000 Corporate Ridge, Suite 1000
McLean, Virginia 22102
Steve Ziller
Vice President for Scientific and Regulatory Affairs
Grocery Manufacturers of America
1010 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20007
Robert Collette
Director of Food Regualtory Affairs
National Fisheries Institute
1901 North Fort Myer Drive, Suite 700
Arlington, VA 22209
Michael Jacobson, Ph.D.
Center for Science in the Public Interest
1875 Connecticut Avenue N.W., Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20009
Nancy Zeman
Enzyme Technical Association
1900 K Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.20006
Richard Cristol
Calorie Control Council Suite 500-G
5775 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30342
Pamela Graves-Moore
Director, Government Affairs
Monsanto
600 13th Street, N.W., Suite 660
Washington, D.C. 20005
E. Edward Kavanaugh
President
The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association
1101 17th Street, N.W., Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20036-4702
Penni Jones
Winnie Baden
Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers and Distributors
1220 W. Northwest Highway
Palatine, IL 60067
Cary Frye
International Dairy Food Association
1250 H Street, N.W., Suite 900
Washington, D.C. 20005
Joel Simpson
In Flight Food Service Association
JFK International Airport
Building 146
Jamaica, New York 11430
Nancy Snyder
International Sprout Growers Association
P.O. Box 2214
Amherst, MA 01004
Dr. Annette Dickinson
Council for Responsible Nutrition
1300 19th Street, N.W., Suite 310
Washington, D.C. 20036-1628
Charlene Rainey
Nutrition Network, Inc.
Michael Ford
National Nutritional Foods Association
3931 McAuther Blvd., Suite 101
Newport Beach, CA 92660 - 3021
John Cady
President and Chief Executive Officer
National Food Processors Association
1401 New York Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005
Mr. Heckman
Society of Plastics Industries, Inc.
1801 K Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006
Paul Weller
Apple Processors Association
1723 V Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009
Carole Johnson
American Heart Association
5335 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20015
Tracey Fox
American Dietetic Association
Division of Government Affairs
1225 Eye Street, N.W., #1250
Washington, D.C. 20005
Tom Higgins
Manager Regulatory Affairs
Viskase Corporation
6855 West 65th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60638
Meeting Transcripts and Meeting Summary