Promoting A Nationally Integrated Food Safety System in Tennessee By Implementing The Animal Feed Regulatory Program Standards (afrps) and Achieving Iso/iec 17025:2005 Laboratory Accreditation

Funding Opportunity - RFA-FD-15-021: Implementation of the Animal Feed Regulatoryprogram Standards (AFRPS) (U18) Competition BApplicant: State of Tennessee, Department of Agriculture, Consumer & IndustryServices DivisionPHS 398 Research PlanProject SummaryThe intent of this project is to advance efforts for a nationally integrated food safety system byachieving and maintaining conformance with the Federal Animal Feed Regulatory programStandards (AFRPS) and achieve accreditation with ISO/IEC 17025:2005. The sections of theTennessee Department of Agriculture, Consumer and Industry Services Division (CIS) that willbe the focus of this project will include the Agricultural Inputs section (Ag Inputs), responsible forregulatory oversight of animal feed firms in the State and the supporting Technical ServicesLaboratory (TSL). CIS intends to accomplish the goals of this project by adding a Feed ProgramSpecialist and a Field Quality Manager (Ag Inputs) and an Assistant Quality AssuranceManager and a Level II Chemist (TSL) to ensure adequate staffing is available to accomplishproject goals and participate in Cooperative Agreement activities. Support awarded would alsogo toward needed equipment for both Ag Inputs and TSL; ensuring equipment is current and fitfor use and expanding the scope of capabilities for both sections.Conformance with these standards will improve consistency across Federal, State and localregulatory programs and facilitate cooperative efforts to reduce animal food related hazards infacilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold animal foods. Building trust with otheragencies in the methods and procedures used by CIS through participation in nationallyrecognized programs will provide the opportunity to take a more active role in the developing anIntegrated Food Safety System for the U.S. Ultimately, better integration and sharing ofinformation will provide the opportunity to respond proactively, rather than reactively, as risks tothe animal food supply are identified.