A new tool to help explain the Produce Safety Initiative was completed in FY 99. Assuring Safer Produce: A Global Issue, is a six-minute video that provides an overview of the good agricultural and good manufacturing practices outlined in FDA's Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. The video was translated from English into Spanish, French and Portuguese for use worldwide. The guide is also now available in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese. The videos and English and Spanish guides are available on the Internet at www.foodsafety.gov.

"Enhancing the Safety of Fresh Produce at the Source: Training Modalities and Methods, Needs and Opportunities," was the title of an international conference sponsored by FDA April 26-28.

"This landmark workshop, held at the University of Maryland, College Park, drew 175 participants from 24 countries on four continents," said Camille Brewer, FSI international activities coordinator. Attendees included government experts, education and training counselors, scientists, producers, worker groups, academic institutions and international organizations.

"The purpose of the workshop was to begin a process for determining how to develop an education and outreach program for growers and producers that will benefit public health and the marketplace," said Brewer. Topics discussed included minimizing microbial contamination through the control of water, manure, worker health and hygiene, field and facility sanitation and transportation.

"At the conference's conclusion we made progress identifying common elements of a good training plan, creating awareness of existing training programs, and identifying potential partnerships for the development of practical training modules," explained Brewer.

FDA participated in a planning meeting sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization in December 1998 to assess training needs and to begin to develop a core curriculum for regional train-the-trainer workshops on good agricultural practices for Central America.

FDA then provided instructors for the first of its kind Regional Course on the Assurance of the Quality and Safety of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. The May 1999 training course, which was held in Costa Rica, brought together agriculture experts and health officials from Central America.

In September 1999, FDA held two international meetings for mid-level government officials and industry representatives with food safety responsibilities. The first meeting in Mexico City was targeted to the countries of North and Central America and reached over 5,000 individuals through satellite link-up at 76 sites throughout Mexico. The second meeting in Chile reached more than 200 representatives from South America. Through general sessions and workshops, participants learned about the U.S. National Food Safety Initiative; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points principles in meat, poultry, seafood and juice industries; requirements and guidelines covering fruits and vegetables; research and risk assessment; the Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables; and food safety education and the role of government and the private sector in ensuring food safety.

Mary Ayling, FSI lead, produce inspection team, said the meeting provided an opportunity to discuss food safety concerns of the exporting countries.

A panel of experts from the U.S and Mexico discuss produce safety at the Regional Outreach Meeting on Food Safety in Mexico City.

In June 1998, the U.S. and Mexico issued a Joint Letter of Intent to Cooperate on Food Safety, in which they pledged to develop and implement collaborative projects. The goal is to develop a plan for working together on education, research and outbreak response. Several programs have been developed under the joint letter in the areas of education, outbreak response and research.

In September 1999, FDA participated in a training program on good agricultural practices sponsored by SAGAR (Mexico's) Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, which was broadcast to 49 sites throughout Mexico.

A draft protocol between FDA and Mexico was developed to establish links when outbreaks occur in either country or positive lab samples implicate a particular commodity. "This protocol will formalize communications and ensure more rapid communication between the U.S. and Mexico," said Jack Guzewich, FDA's foodborne disease outbreak coordinator. Guzewich explained that a "Bilateral Foodborne Disease Outbreak Response Team" made up of federal, state and local representatives from Mexico will accompany FDA on investigations in Mexico. "We believe working together FDA can help Mexico improve the safety of their food supply."

FDA officials served as consultants to the Inter-American Bank, carrying out needs assessment of country capabilities for produce safety in Trinidad and Tobago, Honduras and Costa Rica.

FDA officials also served as consultants to the USDA on the Hurricane Mitch Reconstruction Project, assessing rehabilitation needs related to food safety in Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala.