Wednesday, December 02, 2009 by Kathy Means
Help FDA make informed revisions to CGMPs
FDA has let us know that the agency is modernizing the Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) for processed foods. To do that, FDA will send a survey to 2,700 randomly chosen U.S. facilities early next week. The agency is looking for information about key issues, including the use of hazard analysis and critical control point and other food safety plans, risk-based preventive controls, employee training, sanitation, personal hygiene, allergen controls, process controls, post-production processing, supplier approval programs, and recordkeeping.
FDA needs this information to make educated decisions about revising these regulations. Participation is voluntary, and the responses are critical to help FDA identify cost-effective industry practices for the food CGMP modernization effort. FDA assures us that responses will be kept strictly confidential. All data will be collected and compiled by an independent consulting firm, Eastern Research Group, Inc. (ERG). Responses will be used only for statistical purposes. The reports ERG will prepare on this study will summarize findings across the sample and will not associate responses with a specific company or individual. ERG will not provide information that identifies companies to anyone outside the ERG study team at anytime.
FDA estimates it will take 15 to 45 minutes to complete the survey.