Status of FDA Inspections during partial government shutdown

I subscribe to a free publication “FSN – Food Safety News” to keep as up to date as possible with Food Safety issues, incidents and recalls. This article appeared this morning…

FDA food investigations running at less than 50 percent of normal

By Dan Flynn on January 22, 2019

The Food and Drug Administration has “more than 200 food investigators” on the job “not counting support staff and supervisors” out of about 550 total professionals “when the agency is fully operational,” according to Commissioner Scott Gottlieb.

In a “tweet” Monday, the FDA commissioner said he was responding to questions about staffing levels for FDA’s Office of Human and Animal Food Operations. It was one of the most detailed statements about food safety staffing that Gottlieb has made since the partial government shutdown began on Dec. 22.

Click here to read the entire article…

January 15, 2019

Environmental Reporting: EPCRA Tier II Reporting for Combustible Dust

The following is the bottom line on methods for reporting combustible dust… It is an excerpt from a longer article published AFIA on 1/15/19
and is used with permission…

“EPA and industry agree on the following approach for combustible
dust reporting:

The EPA agrees that there are two simple, reasonable options to
complete the Tier II form for combustible dust, which ensures
emergency planners have the relevant information they need
about potential combustible concerns at a feed or grain operation.
Depending on the nature or size of your feed or grain operation:

Reporting Option #1 – If combustible dust is likely present at any
level below the 10,000-pound threshold. If a facility has a reasonable
basis to conclude that it has some volume of combustible dust,
but it is below the 10,000-pound threshold, then a facility should:

(1) check the “combustible dust” box in the “physical hazards” column; and
(2) check the “below reporting thresholds” box in the last column
(the “additional reporting information” column) of the Tier II form.

Reporting option #1 is likely most appropriate for most facilities.
EPA has concluded that there is no obligation for a facility to
provide any further information if the “below reporting
thresholds” is checked.

Reporting Option #2 – If combustible dust is likely above the
10,000-pound threshold If a facility has a reasonable basis to
estimate that it may have combustible dust above the 10,000
-pound threshold, then it should:

(1) check the box in the “physical hazards” column;
and
(2) complete the “inventory” column using an estimation
method or calculations based on the facility’s best
professional judgment.

This option may be more applicable for those facilities that
collect and store combustible dust in a bin or container.

Reminder: Certain local or state jurisdictions may require additional
reporting

While the EPA agrees with industry on the two options for reporting
above, facilities may be subject to additional local or state Tier
II reporting requirements for combustible dust. You may need
to check your county or state requirements to determine
whether this may be the case and complete your Tier II
report accordingly.”

January 15, 2019

Training

Preventive Controls for Animal Food

Penn State Extension will be offering a Preventive Controls for Animal Food workshop at the Penn State Extension Mercer County Office in
Mercer, PA on January 29-31.

Upon completion of the entire 2.5 day course, attendees will met the
requirements to be considered as a preventive controls qualified
individual. Current good manufacturing practices, conducting a hazard
analysis, and preventive controls for animal foods will be covered
during the workshop. The audience for this workshop includes
facilities that process, manufacture, pack, or hold animal feed or pet
food.

Register online with any major credit card (MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express) at http://extension.psu.edu/animal-pc.
Registration deadline is January 22.