Laboratory Flexible Funding Model (LFFM)

Project Summary Overall The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) outlines a new approach to food safety that is risk-informed and preventive in focus. Recognizing that sample testing can play a greater role in helping the Agency and our regulatory partners prevent contaminated product from reaching consumers, understand risks, and assess the value of strategies to control those risks, Food and Drug Administration has begun the process of rethinking how the agency deploys its resources. This will require collection and testing of a great many different kinds of matrices. The LFFM grant will be utilized to support the above-mentioned initiative by producing a large quantity of sample outputs that will drive a risk-based and prevention focused food safety system that both the FDA and our State partners can utilize for tracking and trending, early identification of emerging issues, and evaluation for future sampling initiatives and areas of focus. Further, laboratories will be offered the opportunity to expand their testing scope to build and increase sample throughput capacity and capability within their state WI BLS (Bureau of Laboratory Services) has been a member of the FERN Cooperative grant since 2009. As member of FERN WI BLS has contributed through many testing, PT, and challenge exercises, as well as presentations at all the conferences over the past 12 years. WI BLS is eager to take on new challenges, expand our testing scope, and help FDA with this nationwide initiative. As such, we have applied for both animal and human food tracks, as well as both developmental tracks, in addition to the Food Defense and all Discipline D tracks. In addition to WI BLS being well suited with its highly experienced staff, we also have a robust and extensive instrument inventory aligned with the goals of this funding opportunity. WI BLS has over 30 staff member and 20 Chemist and Microbiologist who average over 25+ years in the laboratory testing industry, as well as averaging 20+ years at WI BLS. Additionally, we have our 20.88 agreement in place with FDA, have been an ISO accredited laboratory since 2008, have mentored other state labs through the FDA ISO grant, and have been a grantee of the FDA ISO grant since 2012, and plan to continue to be ISO 17025 accredited indefinitely.