GDA AFRPS Maintenance and Mutual Reliance Tracks FY26-28 - Georgia Department of Agriculture Project Title: GDA AFRPS Maintenance and Mutual Reliance Tracks FY26-28 Project Period: August 1, 2025 – June 30, 2028 Overall Summary The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) plans to utilize both the Animal Feed Regulatory Program Standards (AFRPS) and Mutual Reliance Track to establish a uniform regulatory foundation and opportunity to strengthen partnerships with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as with other state animal food regulatory partners, to advance food safety through collaborative efforts based upon mutual reliance and shared responsibility. The overall objectives of this project are to ensure the AFRPS are maintained while conducting regulatory work and promoting compliance with applicable federal and state regulations, as well as utilizing data obtained through mutual reliance to reduce risk factors contributing to illnesses in animals and humans. These objectives apply to firms that manufacture, process, pack, or hold animal food products in the State of Georgia. Additional objectives for this cooperative agreement include, but are not limited to, the following: a) fully maintain the implementation of the AFRPS; b) enhance collaboration and information sharing between FDA and state regulatory partners through the Integrated Food Safety System (IFSS) through risk-based work, work sharing, and data exchange; c) reduce risk factors known to contribute to illnesses in animals and humans, work with FDA and other state regulatory partners for the early detection of animal food safety issues, and promptly investigate any animal food related event likely to cause Serious Adverse Health Consequences or Death to Humans or Animals (SAHCODHA); d) advance the GDA’s animal food audit program from Phase II to Phase III within the three-year duration of this project; e) demonstrate the ability to fully participate in initiatives supporting the AFRPS, such as annual face-to-face meetings, quarterly meetings with FDA, verification audits, conference calls, and trainings; f) perform comprehensive non-contract animal food inspections according to the CPGM 7371.000 and perform said inspections under GDA’s authority, procedures, and policies; g) provide a properly detailed budget for both the Maintenance and Mutual Reliance Tracks; h) participate in LFFM sampling and acting on violative sample results by sharing data with FDA; i) developing an outreach plan and associated materials related to the PCAF regulation and FSMA related rules as part of GDA’s overall outreach plan; and j) demonstrate the availability of adequately trained staff to meet the goals of the cooperative agreement. Through collaborative work planning and data sharing between the GDA and the FDA, both agencies aim to increase regulatory oversight of animal food activities throughout the state.
