FDA to hear comments on leveraging technology

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has scheduled a virtual and in-person meeting to seek ideas on how the agency can leverage data and technology to advance food safety.

The FDA is asking stakeholders to participate in the April 24 meeting on “Data and Technology in the New Era of Smarter to Food Safety.” The FDA rolled out the “New Era” initiative in 2019 to signal a new approach to food safety, leveraging technology and other tools and approaches to create a safer and more digital, traceable food system.

The meeting will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern.

The morning session of the public meeting will consist of FDA presentations to explain its current thinking on the potential for data and technology for government and industry to create a safer food system. The afternoon session will be reserved for public comments.

Examples of activities the federal agency is seeking feedback on include:

• Tech-enabled traceability
• Predictive analytics
• Data sharing
• Whole genome sequencing (GenomeTrakr)
• Ways to use technology to monitor and gather data
• Technological innovation in equipment design, digital tools and training methods
• New/emerging areas of innovation, such as virtual reality in food safety training

The feedback will help FDA identify priorities under the New Era of Smarter Food Safety and shape further stakeholder engagement opportunities, according to the agency.

Registration is free and will be open through the day of the meeting.

Upon registering you will receive a confirmation email and approximately 24 to 48 hours before the event, registrants will receive an email with the meeting link and a formal calendar invitation.

Beginning on April 24, a Regulations.gov docket will open for 60 days to collect comments related to the event topic.