FDA to Improve Internal Processes for Evaluating Chemical Risks in Food

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reportedly taking measures to bolster intra-agency program processes based on a comprehensive review of the scientific capacity and management of the Chemical Safety Program across the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) and Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM). FDA plans to address improvements in the principal categories of science, communication and collaboration, and training and expertise. Among other things, the agency intends to (i) update the agency’s Toxicological Principles for the Safety Assessment of Food Ingredients (Redbook); (ii) establish consistent methodologies for safety and risk assessments within and across CFSAN offices and between CFSAN and CVM; (iii) increase collaboration on emerging issues with other federal agencies; and (iv) create an experts database to help identify potential collaborators both inside and outside the agency. See FDA Constituent Update, August 28, 2014.

Issue 537