Flexible Funding Model-Infrastructure Maintenance for State Manufactured Food Regulatory Programs in Massachusetts

Project Summary/Abstract Through the Flexible Funding Model-Infrastructure Maintenance for State Manufactured Food Regulatory Programs in Massachusetts, the MA Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health, Food Protection Program (BEH/FPP) will maintain conformance with the most current version of the Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards (MFRPS) as well as support coordinated federal/state/local Human and Animal Food (HAF) emergency response efforts. Continued conformance with the MFRPS will ensure that Massachusetts’ manufactured food regulatory program maintains best practices for a high-quality regulatory program to reduce foodborne illness hazards in plants that manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods. BEH/FPP will continue to regulate and inspect its 1,700 food manufacturers statewide, including licensed and non-licensed facilities and firms under shellfish and dairy cooperative program inspections. BEH/FPP will collaborate closely with federal, state, and local public health partners, industry, and other stakeholders as well as with agencies and organizations in food/feed manufacturing, distribution, and protection to support its technical and operational foundation for MFRPS maintenance. Measures to meet goals and objectives will be carried out within the framework of the US FDA cooperative agreement. BEH/FPP is committed, through its participation in this cooperative agreement, to maintain and strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of food safety and protection in Massachusetts and beyond.