FDA During Pandemic
Summary of Food Safety Activities
Last week the FDA released a report looking at their activities during the Covid-19 pandemic. This was a challenging time for all of us, especially for FDA who is responsible for inspecting vaccine, human and animal drug manufacturers, medical device manufacturers, blood banks, food processing facilities, animal food processors and compounding pharmacies. Food processing facilities includes domestic manufacturers and foreign companies who import to the US.
During the pandemic, the FDA adapted using new tools such as live-streaming videos of operations, teleconferences, and screen sharing. Initially. the agency prioritized mission critical inspections, resuming routine inspections last July..
However, they are still behind on inspections so further prioritization of inspections will continue. This means that postponed inspections will be prioritized based on risk and conducted over a longer period of time, ultimately increasing the amount of time between inspections of certain lower-risk facilities.
It is important that food business continue to provide safe food even if inspections are postponed. If you have any questions about your food safety program, book a free food safety chat to share your concerns. We will help you sort out your priorities.
Links
FDA Outlines Inspection and Assessment Activities During Pandemic