|
NASDA announces renewed cooperative agreement with FDA
Story Date: 9/26/2016
| |
Source: NASDA 9/23/16
At the Annual Meeting of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) today, NASDA President and Nebraska Director of Agriculture Greg Ibach announced a renewed cooperative agreement with the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) related to the implementation of the Produce Safety Rule under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The Cooperative Agreement’s expanded scope will provide NASDA a continued opportunity to provide leadership and support for the On-Farm Readiness Review Project – tools and resources developed cooperatively with state departments of agriculture, FDA and extension representatives for the purpose of assisting growers to comply with the new rule. The agreement also provides an opportunity for NASDA to bring together FDA leadership and state leadership to establish a National Consortium for Produce Safety Program Development.
“NASDA will continue to play a leadership role with the states, working to assist them in developing produce safety programs that meet the unique needs of each state, while remaining aligned and consistent nationally,” said Ibach. “NASDA looks forward to continued collaboration with the FDA and the states on implementation of the Produce Safety Rule.”
NASDA also elected a new slate of officers for the coming year. Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Michael G. Strain will serve as NASDA’s 2016-2017 President. Commissioner Strain will host the 2017 NASDA Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana from September 11-14.
“A new president, new administration, and new Congress will provide us with huge opportunities to amplify NASDA’s unique voice over the next year,” said Strain. “I look forward to working with my counterparts in the states to realize our call to action for a renewed commitment to state-federal partnerships for the advancement of America’s farmers and ranchers.”
Also elected were Connecticut Commissioner of Agriculture Steven Reviczky (Vice President), New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte (Second Vice President), and Michigan Director of Agriculture Jamie Clover Adams (Secretary- Treasurer). Nebraska Director of Agriculture Greg Ibach will serve as NASDA’s Past President and Hawaii Chairman of Agriculture Scott Enright will serve in the At-Large position. Idaho Director of Agriculture Celia Gould, Maine Commissioner of Agriculture Walt Whitcomb, Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture Jai Templeton, and Ohio Director of Agriculture David Daniels will serve as the Western, Northeastern, Southern, and Midwestern representatives respectively.
NASDA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association which represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries, and directors of the departments of agriculture in all fifty states and four U.S. territories. To learn more about NASDA, please visit www.nasda.org.
|
|
|
|
