ADEC- FSS MFRPS Maintenance and Program Infrastructure Improvement

ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT: OVERALL Alaska's manufactured food regulatory program protects the safety of food manufactured in Alaska through inspections, education, intervention, compliance and enforcement tasks, research, collaboration, outreach, and the implementation of new or updated systems and technologies. Proposed projects fall into three areas of this funding opportunity: maintaining conformance with the Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards (MFRPS), growing partnerships through the Alaska Food Protection Task Force, and a special project to implement a new information management system. This proposed project supports the development of a nationally integrated food safety system and mutual reliance between state manufactured food programs and FDA. The project supports the development of a nationally integrated food safety system and mutual reliance between state manufactured food programs and FDA partners. To accomplish these goals, Alaska’s manufactured food regulatory program will use the standards framework that has been developed over the past decade and strategies that have been successful during previously funded MFRPS projects in our program. Additionally, we will work with partners, including FDA, to adapt tools and processes and integrate new and improved processes into the existing structure of the manufactured food program. These activities will contribute both to the effectiveness of Alaska’s manufactured food regulatory program and to the sustainability of standards- based practices in the program. The Food Protection Task Force track will provide funding to support the work of the existing Alaska Food Protection Task Force and allow the task force to grow. Specifically, over the next three years, the Alaska Food Protection Task Force plans to focus on the goals of enhancing partnerships in an Integrated Food Safety System and educating both stakeholders and consumers regarding food safety topics relevant to each group. The program is requesting funding for a special project that is intended to support Alaska’s in-depth involvement in the development, configuration, and implementation of a new technological solution to replace the program’s information management system.