Advancing Conformance With The Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (vnrfrps) in Nebraska

Advancing Conformance with the Voluntary National Retail Food RegulatoryProgram Standards (VNRFRPS) (U18)Project Description:NDA has the primary regulatory responsibility for retail food establishments within the state.The NDA FSCP Food program conducts standardizations and trainings for all food inspectors.NDA FSCP contracts with three local health departments, who are also enrolled in the RetailProgram Standards. NDA is promoting greater uniformity in regulating the retail food industryacross Nebraska using statutory requirements modeled after the FDA Food Code.The intended outcome of this project is to advance efforts for a nationally integrated foodsafety system by achieving conformance with the Voluntary National Retail Food RegulatoryProgram Standards (VNRFRPS or Retail Program Standards). Nebraska Department ofAgriculture initially enrolled in the Retail Program Standards April 4, 2002. Since that time,three self-assessments have been completed. The most current self- assessment wascompleted in 2016. From that assessment, we have identified program needs and set prioritiesto maximize the effectiveness of resources, including the funds received under this cooperativeagreement. Conformance with the standards has been a slow process due to personnel andbudget constraints. With this cooperative agreement, by the end of three years, we plan toconform to each of the nine standards in the 2015 version of the Retail Program Standards. Thefocus will be on reducing the risk factors known to cause or contribute to foodborne illness bypromoting active managerial control of these risk factors. This cooperative agreement will helpfinance the development, implementation, and improvement of the infrastructure to supportconformance with the Retail Program Standards..