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On August 12-14, 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration hosted a three-day national meeting in St. Louis, Mo., entitled the “Gateway to Food Protection.” The FDA held the meeting to build upon the integrated approach of prevention, intervention and response described in FDA’s recently released Food Protection Plan. The focus of the meeting was to examine how to utilize a National food safety system to address a global food supply.
Representatives from 50 states as well as from local and tribal communities and territories were invited to attend the event. The FDA believes that the FPP will only be successful with the input and assistance from our state, local, tribal and territorial partners. The national meeting focused on four topic areas: outbreaks, recalls, risk-based inspections and roles and responsibilities. Teams of federal, state and local officials were tasked with identifying and developing a series of action items and recommendations to better coordinate and align FDA’s respective programs along the lines noted in the FPP, which are enhancing efficiency and effectiveness; improving communication; increase the sharing of data and information at all levels of government, and improve the services the agency provide to its citizens. The FDA will issue a final report of the meeting at the end of September.