FDA’s Strategy for FSMA Training: Public and Private Partners Working Together

With the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act transforming the nation’s food safety system into one based on the prevention of foodborne illness, the food industry will be required to systematically put in place measures proven effective in preventing contamination. For this reason, food-industry training will be important to the successful implementation of FSMA, FDA said as it issued its strategy for facilitating that training in collaboration with public and private partners.

One size won’t fit all when it comes to training. The most important goal that the FDA expects of any training program is the outcome—that it advances knowledge among the food industry to meet FSMA requirements. There is more than one way to get there and there will be a variety of training options and delivery formats.

The FSMA Training Strategy outlines those options and formats, in addition to introducing the partners in government, industry and academia who are working with the FDA on the development and delivery of training to the global community of food suppliers.

As part of this strategy, FDA today announced the award of a $600,000 grant to the International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI) to establish a National Coordination Center, which will play a key role in training development and delivery.

The FDA is striving for transparency as this evolving training plan takes shape.