Monday, September 26th 2016
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture has renewed a cooperative agreement with the FDA related to the implementation of the Produce Safety Rule under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). NASDA says the “expanded scope” of the cooperative agreement will let its members provide leadership and support for the On-Farm Readiness Review Project, a concept that NASDA developed with FDA that allows growers to receive a pre-assessment of how they stand in terms of produce safety rule compliance. The agreement, announced over the weekend in Lincoln, Nebraska, where NASDA was holding its annual meeting, also provides an opportunity for the group to bring together FDA leadership and state leadership to establish a National Consortium for Produce Safety Program Development. At the meeting, where NASDA celebrated its 100th anniversary, the group also elected a new slate of officers for the coming year. Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture Michael G. Strain will serve as NASDA's 2016-2017 president. Strain will host the 2017 NASDA Annual Meeting in New Orleans from Sept. 11-14.