USDA, FDA Announce Formal Agreement to Bolster Coordination and Collaboration

A formal agreement between the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration seeks to make the oversight of food more effective.  Announced Tuesday by the White House, the arrangement is aimed at “bolstering coordination between the two agencies."  The formal agreement outlines efforts to increase interagency collaboration, efficiency and effectiveness on produce safety and biotechnology activities, while providing clarity to manufacturers.

Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue says the agreement promotes “coordination and the streamlining of capacities and obligations on shared concerns and jurisdiction.”  USDA oversees the safety of most meat, poultry, catfish and certain egg products while the FDA has authority over all other foods such as dairy, seafood, produce and packaged foods.

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