Continuation of Cooperative Agreement between U.S. Food and Drug Administration and S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) for MFRPS Maintenance.

South Carolina Department Of Public Health, Columbia SC

Investigators

Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract - DHEC MFRPS Maintenance Track FOA Number: RFA-FD-23-027; Application ID: 1407708 Overall Component, Research and Related Other Project Information Form #7 If this cooperative agreement is awarded, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) will strive to maintain its status of full conformance with all ten Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards (MFRPS) under the MFRPS Maintenance Track. Fulfilling the overarching, broad objectives of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is essential for the realization of DHEC’s visions: utilizing standardized approaches for food industry regulation, protecting public health, and securing the safety of South Carolina’s food supply. Through our FDA Assessments, DHEC achieved full implementation of all 10 MFRPS in 2017, achieved full conformance with all 10 MFRPS in 2019, and maintained full conformance with all 10 MFRPS in 2021. During this cooperative agreement, DHEC will be completing maintenance tasks to meet the annual goals for the MFRPS Maintenance Track of this FOA. These routine tasks include, but are not limited to, self-assessments, policy and procedure revisions, continuing education, monitoring inspections and audits, identifying chronic violations and violators, and attending outreach activity events. All identified gaps in conformance will be swiftly addressed using Corrective Action Preventive Actions (CAPA) in our Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP). To achieve the overarching goal of MFRPS Maintenance, DHEC’s MFRPS Coordinator and MFRPS Assistant will work together to maintain an up-to-date Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP), a keystone part of MFRPS Maintenance, and to maintain records of and continue monitoring training, inspections, sample collections, equipment verifications, consumer and industry complaints, audits, foodborne illness outbreaks, enforcement actions, chronic violators, chronic and critical violations, outreach events, equipment purchases, and staffing changes.