The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently held a public meeting on Sept. 25 to discuss its proposed framework for an enhanced systemic post-market assessment process for chemicals in food. The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), a strong advocate for a proactive, science-based approach, participated in the meeting along with stakeholders from various sectors, including the food industry, academia, consumer advocacy groups, and environmental organizations. The consensus was that the framework should be proactive, robust, science-based, transparent, and include regulatory oversight, while also allowing for stakeholder feedback and ensuring timely decision-making.

While there may be differing opinions on how the framework should be applied in practice, the dairy industry is committed to providing safe and nutritious products to consumers. This starts with ensuring the safety of the ingredients used in dairy products. To support innovation and maintain a stable global business environment, dairy companies require regulatory certainty.

IDFA is actively advocating for a cultural shift within the FDA towards a more action-oriented approach to post-market assessments. Historically, the FDA has been criticized for its slow, reactive approach, leading to a lack of trust and confidence in its ability to ensure food safety. IDFA and other stakeholders believe that the FDA must adopt accelerated timelines with clear milestones for completing assessments to improve accountability and regain consumer trust.

Effective public communication is also crucial to the success of the FDA’s proposed post-market assessment process. The FDA must clearly communicate the purpose and outcomes of these assessments to the public to avoid confusion and unnecessary market disruptions. Consumers should be informed about the prioritization process and reassured that substances undergoing review are not necessarily unsafe. Additionally, the FDA will require additional resources to implement this process effectively, and IDFA is advocating for increased funding to support these efforts.

One of the key issues discussed at the public meeting was the controversy surrounding the GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) system. While some non-governmental organizations expressed concerns about the safety of ingredients approved under this system, IDFA and others in the food industry believe that these concerns are overstated. The self-GRAS rule was implemented due to FDA’s limited resources, but all voluntary GRAS notifications listed on the FDA’s website have undergone rigorous safety reviews by the agency. IDFA emphasizes the industry’s responsibility in ensuring the effectiveness of the GRAS system by voluntarily notifying the FDA of GRAS substances and cooperating with surveillance efforts.

In conclusion, IDFA will continue to advocate for a transparent, science-based post-market assessment program at the FDA that prioritizes regulatory certainty, food safety, consumer trust, and industry innovation. By working collaboratively with stakeholders and government agencies, the dairy industry can ensure the continued safety and quality of dairy products for consumers.