RAPS Annual Conference In Brief

With about 50 rules and guidance documents to issue under the Food Safety Modernization Act, FDA is reaching out to collaborate with the food industry like never before, according to Shannon Cole, senior director of science program management at the Grocery Manufacturers Association. Speaking Oct. 24 at the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society’s annual conference in Indianapolis, Cole said FDA “will cheat, borrow and steal anything that industry’s willing to give them as they write these regs.” For example, Cole said the agency wants to know how companies develop food safety plans in advance of promulgating a final rule on requirements for the plans. Leading FDA’s FSMA outreach effort is Deputy Commissioner for Foods Michael Taylor, the former VP for public policy at GMA member Monsanto.

OTC product development requires open-minded regulatory professionals who find ways to innovate – rather than excuses not to – in...