Innovative Food Defense Initiatives Joseph Reardon Food Administrator Food and Drug Protection Division North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

Importance of Food Defense Food Safety = Food DefenseThe former Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson said, “ For the life of me, I cannot understand why the terrorists have not attacked our food supply because it is so easy to do.” Food Safety = Food Defense

Food Safety and Defense Task Force Developed in 2001 including key state agencies, industry, and academia Supported by Governor Executive Order –Co-chaired by NCDA&CS and Department of Health and Human Services –Coordinated approach to identify vulnerabilities and safeguard food supply Developed Emergency Programs Division

Multi-Hazard Threat Database Rapid Response –Fast access to information –Strong visual and analytical capabilities Risk Assessment –Estimate rates of spread or progression –Establish specific mitigation/protection plans

Benefits of Utilizing GIS Multi-Hazard Database (MHDB) Improved Management Capabilities –Real-time management of incident –Determine and locate required resources –Improve planning/response capabilities –Facilitate develop recovery plans –Available for federal response needs

Emergency Notification Capabilities of GIS-MHDB

Incident Command Teams Food and Drug Incident Management Teams Goal: Establish basic response skills Incident action plan Situational Report Task Tracker Public Information (JIC)

“Highwater” Exercise ICS Teams must resolve injects: –Employee availability –Farmers requesting on-site visits for embargoes –Wrecks involving transporting of food –Complaint calls from citizens –Retailers selling adulterated food Exercise identified gaps in preparedness policy and needed resources

Future Initiative Food Defense –Food defense must be conducted at the state level State should pilot specific plans –Develop relationships with other state government agencies, federal agencies, and industry for data sharing –Identify food and agriculture vulnerabilities Link data to GIS and MHTD

Conclusion ODP funding requires shift from population based to agriculture based Federal funding needed on multi-year basis for state programs –Over 80% of food security work including inspections, investigation of complaints, and enforcement actions performed at state and local level –Direct financial support required for state departments and laboratories responsible for food safety/defense