US FDA Continues to Clarify US Bioterrorism Preparedness Act

CANADA - Farm-Scape: Episode 1425. Farm-Scape is a Wonderworks Canada production and is distributed courtesy of Manitoba Pork Council and Sask Pork.
calendar icon 15 January 2004
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Manitoba Pork Council


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Manitoba Pork Council and Sask Pork

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Farm-Scape is a Wonderworks Canada production and is distributed courtesy of Manitoba Pork Council
and Sask Pork.

Farm-Scape, Episode 1425

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has identified several components of the new US Bioterrorism Preparedness Act that require further clarification.

The Bioterrorism Preparedness Act came into effect December 12th.

The act compels processors that export food products to the US to register with the US Food and Drug Administration and shippers to provide prior notification of the arrival of goods at US border points.

Bilateral Relations Officer Sharon Flack says US officials have recognized the need for further outreach and indicate the focus will be on education rather than enforcement until August.

"As far as application goes we certainly still have some questions as to what is applied and what isn't and they have come out with question and answer documents on both prior notice and registration which I think is helping to sort out the gray areas.

For example the application of meat products to the rule, products which actually fall totally under the United States Department of Agriculture.

These are not applicable to the rule but some documents that were out there suggested that they were.

Again, that has been clarified...they are not. Other areas include products going forth as breeders. In other words, the pigs are live.

They're going in but they themselves are not to be consumed but rather their offspring would be consumed.

These actually are questions still outstanding with US FDA, again, just to touch on some of the gray areas.

There was also concerns about the actual tools, the electronic information systems that must be used and possibly could be better enhanced to make it easier for our clients to use them."

Flack says CFIA has made a number of suggestions.

She says FDA has indicated its intent to circulate an updated document this coming spring which will hopefully provide additional clarification.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

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