Resolution Year 2007
Resolution Number 1:
Improving Government Effectiveness through Leveraging Programs

Whereas, FDA’s Office of Regulatory Affairs has identified leveraging as a key element in their transformation initiative to work collaboratively with other public health organizations including corporations, educational institutions, trade and consumer groups, state and local government agencies and foreign governments; and

Whereas, FDA has indicated that leveraging is collaboration with other organizations in a manner that allows each organization to achieve more towards their public health responsibilities, goals and objectives than through individual efforts; and

Whereas, AFDO agrees with the vision of integrating food resources at all levels as a meaningful way of addressing food safety issues on a national basis; and

Whereas, AFDO has already supported numerous collaborative projects such as PulseNET, FoodNET, a virtual food safety education process available through ORA-U, FoodSHIELD, and a host of smaller projects which began with the National Food Safety System (NFSS) project; and

Whereas, AFDO continues to believe that dwindling government resources combined with increased consumer demands will require government officials to seek innovative ways to work more collaboratively together; therefore

Be It Resolved, that AFDO reconfirms its support for leveraging and requests FDA to identify innovative and bold leveraging projects and methods that would enable them to work closer and more effectively with states and local governments; and

Be It Further Resolved, that FDA strive to break down traditional barriers which exist within inspection, investigation, and surveillance programs that have prevented FDA from better leveraging with state and local agencies in the past; and

Be it Further Resolved, that FDA pilot test or fully implement new and innovative leveraging programs into the overall strategy for addressing food safety concerns for the nation.

[View AFDO Letter to FDA - September 13, 2007]