July 4, 1998

THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES FOOD SAFETY RESEARCH INSTITUTE July 4, 1998

EMBARGOED UNTIL July 4, 1998, 10:00am EDT
 
          THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES FOOD SAFETY
                            RESEARCH INSTITUTE
                               July 4, 1998
 
In his weekly radio address, the President will announce a plan to create a
Joint Institute for  Food Safety Research that will develop a coordinated
strategy for conducting food safety research activities consistent with the
President's Food Safety Initiative.
 
 
Joint Institute for Food Safety Research.  The President will direct the
Secretaries of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and
Human Services (HHS) to report back to him within 90 days on the creation
of a Joint Institute for Food Safety Research that will: (1) develop a
strategic plan for conducting food safety research activities consistent
with the President's Food Safety Initiative; and (2) efficiently coordinate
all Federal food safety research, including research conducted with the
private sector and academia.
 
 
Goals of the Institute. The two principal goals of the Joint Institute for
Food Safety Research will be to develop the means to identify foodborne
hazards more rapidly and accurately, and to develop effective interventions
to prevent food contamination at each step from farm to table.
 
In addition to improving coordination among the Federal agencies, the
Institute will serve as a focal point for coordinating research with
states, the private sector, and academia, by means of  public-private
research partnerships, or other appropriate mechanisms. The specific
structure and operations of the Institute will be outlined in the agencies?
report back to the President, and will be based on extensive consultations
with all interested parties, including consumers, farmers, industry, and
academia.
 
 
Current Status.  At present there are at least 12 agencies that conduct
food safety research.  Under the President's food safety initiative, the
White House Office of Science and Technology Policy has established an
interagency food safety research working group to help coordinate Federal
research priorities and planning.  While this interagency process is
improving our coordination, a Joint Institute for Food Safety Research will
provide an even stronger and better focused research strategy for food
safety.
 
 

This is a mirror of the White House press release, July 4, 1998, from the <http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/html/briefroom.html> White House Briefing Room.