The Integration and Implementation of Fda's Produce Safety Rule and The Commonwealth Quality Program

Project SummaryProject Title: The Integration and Implementation of FDA's Produce Safety Ruleand the Commonwealth Quality Program (CQP)Project Description: The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) intends tocontinue its current voluntary farm food safety program in Massachusetts, and integrate FDA's ProduceSafety Rule, into a comprehensive and scalable produce safety program in Massachusetts. We intend todevelop a strategic plan to implement this initiative in full compliance with FSMA's Produce Safety Rule.This strategic plan will include education and training for produce farmers covered under the rule, aswell as implementation of a regulatory and operational framework in support of the state program.Project Goals: The proposed project will develop a strategic plan for alignment of MDAR's existingregulations, programs and activities with FDA's Produce Safety Rule. Goals include establishing aninventory of covered produce farms, benchmarking current program operations and proceduresalongside proposed initiatives, developing an educational plan for the continued provision of training onthe state's produce safety program and the Produce Safety Rule for farmers, completing an assessmentof MDARs regulatory authority for produce safety and the resources needed to develop a successfulprogram, and implement the program.Expected Outcomes: It is our intent that the work outlined in this proposal will create a federal-staterelationship which will leverage the existing expertise, knowledge and resources of the MassachusettsDepartment of Agricultural Resources resulting in the continued and consistent delivery of a stateproduce safety program as envisioned by MDAR and the FDA.Project Objectives:1) Develop, integrate and maintain an inventory (database) of produce farms covered under the rule,including a mechanism to share the data with the FDA.2) Determine and assess the resources needed to conduct activities under a state produce safetyprogram, that has been aligned with FDA's Produce Safety Rule (identify metrics & develop and deployplans for the training, technical support/assistance for covered farms, identify develop and deployinformation technology, sampling and laboratory capabilities, & inspection/compliance activities).3) Develop and implement a five year strategic plan that includes educating producers on producesafety and providing regulatory oversight for covered produce in Massachusetts. The plan will includeprogram administration and operations, on-farm inspections and audits, environmental and productsampling, compliance and enforcement, training, education and technical assistance.Budget: $499,916 for year one, $717,262 for year two, $747,775 for year three, $762,447 for year fourand $852,248 year for five, totaling $3,579,649 for the five year grant period.