The FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) today announced its Plan for Program Priorities, 2013-14. The Plan, which aims to help CFSAN focus its highest priorities for protecting and promoting public health, acknowledges developments in the food and cosmetic sectors, and incorporates new responsibilities, tools, and authorities established by the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

The two-year plan identifies six key program goals and details specific objectives for achieving these goals. CFSAN’s six key program goals are:

1. Reduce foodborne illness rates and cosmetic injury rates each year.
2. Establish regulations, policies, guidances, and inspection and compliance strategies based on best science, prevention, and public health risk.
3. Increase compliance with newly created preventive control standards across the farm-to-table continuum.
4. Improve public health indicators through better nutrition and dietary choices.
5. Develop and swiftly deploy the fastest and most effective methods for identifying, containing, and eliminating food and cosmetic hazards.
6. Achieve optimal use of staff and resources.

A CFSAN release said the Center recognizes that funding limitations may affect the Plan, but CFSAN remains focused on dedicating its resources and staff to effectively meeting these goals and responding to future challenges.