America’s FDA and NIH launch food-safety web-portal
The US Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health have launched a new Safety Reporting Portal, designed to allow concerned citizens to submit a safety report regarding food, drugs and veterinary products that may be a danger.
Mandatory safety reporting by private manufactured and processors will also use the new portal, replacing other previous systems such as the Reportable Food Register.
The system will also do away with the need to submit duplicate reports on products and adverse events to several federal agencies. A standardised report will now be submittable through the Safety Reporting Portal, reducing confusion and enforcement questions.
The new system will allow anyone with internet access to report a safety concern. The simplicity and accessibility of the system means the FDA expects the number of reports will increase. This may lead to more information to sift through, but will also allow greater data-mining in the event of an outbreak or undocumented side-effect.
