Alaska Conformance With The Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Sta

Project Summary/AbstractThe State of Alaska Food Safety and Sanitation Program (FSS) provides direct public health andregulatory oversight of manufactured food establishments, retail food establishments, public facilities,and shellfish shippers, producers, and processors throughout Alaska.In January 2005, Alaska enrolled in the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards(VNRFRPS), recognized critical elements in creating a national, fully integrated food safety system byestablishing a uniform basis for measuring and improving the performance of retail food programs in theUnited States. Conformance with these standards assists both federal and state programs in betterdirecting their regulatory activities at reducing foodborne illness hazards in retail food establishments. Alaska has assessed its program and has developed a comprehensive strategic plan to continuouslyimprove program areas that do not meet a particular standard with the intention of achieving fullconformance by year five of this proposed cooperative agreement. Under this proposed cooperative_x0002_P¿_x001E__x001E_u_x001E_v¿Uo_x0002_¿l_x0002_[¿}_x000F_i_x001E__x0010_¿]¿_x001E_¿_x0002_¿_x001E_¿}(}¿¿_x001E_¿}¿¿¿_x001E__x0002__x0010_Z¿}]v_x001A_¿¿¿¿¿U^¿_x0002_v_x001A__x0002_¿_x001A_]¿_x001E_¿¿_x0002_((U_x0002_v_x001A_complete theRisk Factor Survey 3. Additionally, Alaska will perform comprehensive self-assessments, updating itsstrategic plan accordingly, and fully participate in initiatives supporting the VNRFRPS with the goal ofimplementing a risk-based program that continuously improves over time.