GR Notice 1424 October 15, 1973 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE, GRAIN DIVISION, HYATTSVILLE, MD. Information for : Regional Directors and Field Office Supervisors. This Notice transmits GR Instruction 910-5, AMS-FDA Agreement. The revised agreement was effective August 28, 1973, and concerns the inspection and grading of food products other than grain, rice, dry beans, peas, and lentils. These products will be covered in a separate agreement to be issued soon. A letter (copy attached) explaining the principle changes in the revised agreement is being sent by this office to all of our applicants for service. Attachments. GEORGE T. LIPSCOMB, Chief, Commodity Inspection Branch. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, DEAR SIRS: The Food and Drug Administration, an agency of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, and the Agricultural Marketing Service, an agency of the Department of Agriculture, have certain related objectives in carrying out their respective regulatory and service functions. In order to assure the most effective possible discharge of their responsibilities, and that their activities be fully responsive to the public interest, the two agencies have revised and reissued a Memorandum of Agreement concerning inspection and grading of food products, which has been in effect between them since 1953. Principal changes in the new agreement are as follows: 1. In addition to supplying FDA with a list of plants operating under AMS resident type of inspection or grading contracts as has been done in the past, AMS in the future will "immediately advise the appropriate field offices of FDA of those plants subject to withdrawal or suspension of service, termination of contract or denial of inspection service because of sanitation or other current good manufacturing practice deficiencies." 2. Whereas, historically, AMS has informed FDA of any information it has concerning products found to be hazardous to health, AMS in the future will "report to the appropriate field offices information on any lot of product which, upon inspection, AMS to assign a grade or issue a noncompliance certificate (because of adulteration) unless such product is so reconditioned as to comply with FDA requirements and/or qualify for grade assignment, or is segregated and disposed of for non-food use or otherwise lawfully shipped or sold." 3. Both agencies will mutually exchange data and cooperate in the development of sampling plans, methodology and guidelines for determining natural and unavoidable defects common to products inspected and graded by AMS. Other modifications to the agreement consist largely of changing the point of exchange of information from Washington headquarters to appropriate field office levels as a means of making a cooperation between the two agencies more timely. We believe that this action will make our inspection service more valuable to both those who use it and to the public. The action now taken confirms the interests of AMS and FDA in providing assurance to the public that illegal or unwholesome products will not enter trade channels. We look forward to continuing to serve you. We are confident that the revised agreement will improve the posture of both industry and government in carrying out our food inspection responsibilities and to the benefit of both the food industry and the public. If you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact the Commodity Inspection Branch, Grain Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, 6525 Belcrest Road, Hyattsville, Maryland 20782, Telephone (301) 436-8847. Sincerely, GEORGE T. LIPSCOMB, |