Food Security Defense
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WSDA works with the industry, local county health districts, the state Department of Health, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration to protect the safety of the food supply.
WSDA works to prevent the consumption of contaminated food products, which maintains public confidence in the food supply and protects the integrity of our domestic and foreign markets.
Food Defense Requirements
To evaluate your operations for food defense, review the following links issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and USDA.
The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act, commonly known as The Bioterrorism Act of 2002, is designed to protect the U.S. from bioterrorism.The law authorizes the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take action to protect the nation's food supply against the threat of intentional contamination. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as the food regulatory arm of HHS, is responsible for developing and implementing these food safety measures, including four major regulations.
- Registration of Food Facilities: Domestic or foreign facilities that manufacture, process, pack, distribute, receive, or hold food for consumption by humans or animals in the U.S. must register with the FDA no later than Dec. 12, 2003.
- Prior Notice of Imported Food: Beginning Dec. 12, 2003, FDA must receive advance notice of each shipment of food into the U.S.
- Establishment and Maintenance of Records: Persons that manufacture, process, pack, transport, distribute, receive, hold, or import food will be required to create and maintain records FDA determines are needed to identify the immediate previous sources and the immediate subsequent recipients of food (i.e., where it came from and who received it).
- Administrative Detention: Authorizes FDA to administratively detain food if the agency has credible evidence or information that the food presents a threat of serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals.
Report Suspicious Behavior
Consumers, operators and employees of food retail, distribution, storage, and processing facilities are the first line of defense against suspicious activities.
If you observe suspicious activities or it appears that someone has tampered with products, contact:
- Local Law Enforcement
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 24-hour emergency line (301) 443-1240.
Food Regulatory Agencies
Federal Agencies
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration Food Safety
- U.S. EPA Regulation of Pesticides on Food