---

Speaker's Notes

FDA has developed a strategic plan directed toward establishing a national retail food program model that regulatory agencies can used to:

-identify essential food program performance requirements;
-assess strengths and gaps in the design, structure, and delivery of program services;
-establish program priorities and intervention strategies focused on reducing the occurrence of foodborne illness risk factors; and
-create a mechanism that justifies program resources and allocates them to program areas that will provide the most significant public health benefits.

The FDA Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards provide a framework for public health administrators to assess their retail food protection program using national recognized criteria. Endorsed by the Conference for Food Protection, the Program Standards are not based on minimum criteria but rather set a high bar for an effective public health food safety program to aspire to.