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Food Safety

Food Safety. American Agricultural Law Association Symposium October 8, 2010. The Role of State Government in Food Safety: A South Carolina Perspective. Division of South Carolina Food Safety Authority – Clemson, DHEC, SCDA and DNR SC Interagency Food Safety Council.

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Food Safety

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  1. Food Safety American Agricultural Law Association Symposium October 8, 2010

  2. The Role of State Government in Food Safety: A South Carolina Perspective. • Division of South Carolina Food Safety Authority – Clemson, DHEC, SCDA and DNR • SC Interagency Food Safety Council. • Specific Challenges for SCDA • Balancing the Mission of the Department – Marketing & Consumer Protection. • Certified SC Marketing logo. • Community Farmers Markets. • Cooperative Agreements & joint inspections with other Federal agencies. • State Farmers Market Facilities

  3. The Web of Food Safety in SC • SC Dept. of Health & Environmental Control (DHEC) – restaurant and food service inspections, special event permits, milk • SC Meat & Poultry Inspection (Clemson University) – all meat products processed in SC. • SC Department of Agriculture (SCDA) – egg inspections, food manufacturing, food warehouses, flea markets. • SC Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) – Wildlife, certain fish and seafood products.

  4. Memorandums of Agreement Because authority for food safety and consumer protection is spread out over multiple agencies in SC, we have memorandums of agreement to help: • Define specific responsibilities & capabilities of staff and laboratory services. • To address appropriate times/situations to engage in joint inspections. • To address issues regarding the sharing of information between the agencies.

  5. S.C. Interagency Food Safety Council • Quarterly meetings • Started in 2000 • Usually 40-60 people in attendance • We have regular representation from: • State regulatory agencies • Federal regulatory (FDA, USDA) • Academics • Clemson Extension • Private Industry (restaurants, grocery stores) • Agricultural Commodity Groups • SC Dept. of Education • Consumer

  6. Certified SC Marketing Program • This is our marketing logo that we have been using to help consumers identify SC grown products. • Membership is free, but you must be in compliance with all food safety regulations. • We have over 800 members in our program, which was launched in

  7. SCDA Food Safety & Consumer Protection Laws • SC Code Ann. Section 39-

  8. Communication • Because of our “Certified” logo and emphasis on encouraging consumers to buy SC, we’ve had to do a better job of communicating between our marketing division and our consumer protection division. • This has led to our agency offering more educational and training opportunities for market managers and specialty food product manufacturers.

  9. Community Farmers Market Challenges • We have two objectives as an agency related to community farmers markets: • Promoting and encouraging the manufacture, buying and selling of SC Agricultural products and increasing markets for those products. • Ensuring Consumer Protection and Safety.

  10. When it comes to Farmers Markets… • We often find people who are literally making homemade items in their home kitchens and bringing them to sell at the market! • We have to do a lot of educating both vendors and market managers.

  11. Plans for the Future…. • Working with staff to come up with a voluntary Certified Community Farmers Market Program. • We are seeing demand from consumers wanting to know that these products they are purchasing at farmers markets and roadside stands are just as safe as the ones being purchased at their local grocery store.

  12. Cooperative Agreements with Federal Agencies. • We regularly engaging in cooperative agreements with Federal Agencies (USDA, FDA) to conduct certain food safety/consumer protection inspections. • On an as needed basis, we also conduct joint inspections. This has its pro and cons as they relate to sharing information internally, and with the public.

  13. The NEW SC State Farmers Market • The 2nd largest terminal farmers market in the Southeast, is located in Columbia. • We are in the process of completing a brand new facility! • It is a public-private market. Why? • The cost of food safety and renovating and/or building facilities to meet the upcoming food safety requirements was too much for the State at the time. • Private wholesalers are taking on that cost themselves, and have purchased and have built/are building their own facilities based on their customer needs and in anticipation of increased food safety regulations.

  14. Questions? Beth Crocker S.C. Department of Agriculture bcrocker@scda.sc.gov (803) 734-2193

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