Overseeing the U.S. Food Supply: Steps Should be Taken to Reduce Overlapping Inspections and Related Activities
GAO-05-549T
Published: May 17, 2005. Publicly Released: May 17, 2005.
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Highlights
GAO has issued many reports documenting problems resulting from the fragmented nature of the federal food safety system--a system based on 30 primary laws. This testimony summarizes GAO's most recent work on the federal system for ensuring the safety of the U.S. food supply. It provides (1) an overview of food safety functions, (2) examples of overlapping and duplicative inspection and training activities, and (3) observations on efforts to better manage the system through interagency agreements. It also provides information on other countries' experiences with consolidation and the views of key stakeholders on possible consolidation in the United States.
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Employee trainingFood and drug lawFood and drug legislationFood industryFood inspectionFood supplyHealth hazardsInteragency relationsRedundancyNational preparednessFood facilitiesMeat inspectionPoultry inspectionProduct safetyFood safety