The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), entering the agencies into a partnership agreement (PA) to foster interaction and cooperation, and to set the foundation for the ongoing development of an integrated food safety system (IFSS) in Pennsylvania.
Specifically, the MOU enters FDA’s Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) and Office of Human and Animal Food Operation’s East—Division 2 (HAF-E2), PDA’s Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) into the PA. The PA establishes streamlined and efficient processes to coordinate and enhance communication, increase program familiarity, maximize efficiency, and minimize duplication through the exchange of food safety information.