Minnesota Department of Agriculture AFRPS Maintenance Track

Project Abstract The intended outcome of this project is to strengthen and enhance integration of state and federal animal food regulatory systems through continued support of the Animal Food Regulatory Program Standards. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) Food and Feed Safety Division (FFSD) licenses and inspects approximately 1,900 feed entities manufacturing, distributing, and guaranteeing feed or feed ingredients in Minnesota. The FFSD has program responsibility for animal feed and pet food and has a staff complement of 17 for feed-related activities with seven devoted to field inspection and three assigned to pet food labeling, product investigation and distribution. The MDA-FFSD also has multiple supporting units that include an additional 20 staff who fully or partially assist the Commercial Feed Program in day-to-day operations including compliance and enforcement, response and outreach, data management, training support, and electronic systems maintenance. These staff also lead and coordinate updates to procedures and processes including document management as well as achieving and maintaining conformance with the AFRPS. The MDA, as part of this application, will create a comprehensive project plan that outlines the objectives and deliverables needed to maintain conformance with AFRPS.