Food Safety and Quality: Who Does What in the Federal Government, Volume 1

The fragmented, complex federal food safety and quality regulatory system consists of as many as 35 different laws and involves 12 federal agencies. Of the 12 agencies, 6 have the major roles in carrying out food safety and quality activities. They are the Food and Drug Administration FDA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services HHS the U.S. Department of Agricultures USDA Agricultural Marketing Service AMS. Federal Grain Inspection Service FGIS, and Food Safety and Inspection Service FSIS the Environmental Protection Agency EPA and the National Marine Fisheries Service NMFS, which is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Collectively, these agencies are responsible for assuring the consumer that foods are pure and wholesome, safe to eat, and produced under sanitary conditions. In fiscal year 1989 these six agencies devoted over 800 million and almost 17,000 staff years to their food safety and quality activities. FDA and USDA together had about 92 percent of the funding and about 95 percent of the staffing.