IFPTI Training Newsletter - October 2024

• A team of Import Subject Matter Experts has been assembled to build the import program competencies within the NCS starting with a review and update of the Basic Level Imports competency standard. IFPTI will be including Imports as a new program area within the NCS at the Basic and Advanced Levels.
• IFPTI will be working with groups of Subject Matter Experts over the next nine months to review and update the Basic Level Core competencies (Gen Eds) within the Human and Animal Food NCS, along with the Entry Level Core competencies within the Laboratory NCS.
• A group of Produce Subject Matter Experts will be reviewing and validating the competency standard for the Produce Content Area, which is at the Basic Program Area Level within the NCS.
• FD226: Produce Inspections for Regulators - IFPTI is meeting with FDA’s Course Advisory Group (CAG) and rearranging the course flow and content.
• Work has begun on a series of FDA Shellfish courses, beginning with FDA145 (Basic Shellfish), FD245 (Shellfish Plant Standardization), FD243 (Control of Harvest), and FD245W200 (Shellfish Wet Storage and Depuration).

IFPTI Helping to Develop a Certificate Program in Food Safety in Egypt

To meet the growing demand for trained food safety professionals in industry and government, Egypt's National Food Safety Authority (NFSA) aims to recruit and build a competent food safety workforce.? One of the initiatives to help achieve this goal involves the creation of a specialized certificate program in food safety. ?IFPTI is helping to develop this program under the direction of TAIB – a USDA Food for Progress project of Land-O’Lakes Venture 37.? This certificate program will provide graduates with the essential knowledge and skills needed to navigate careers in the food industry and public food control sectors, including roles at the NFSA.

Program Overview

The 30-hour certificate program will introduce students to key concepts such as food safety regulations, quality assurance, and risk management. It will cover topics like microbiology, foodborne pathogens, and hazard analysis critical control points (HACCP) system – including Preventive Controls. The curriculum is also being designed to practice skills at food facilities throughout the supply chain.? These experiences will allow students to apply their knowledge in real-world settings and network with industry professionals. Students will also explore roles at the NFSA, where professionals work to develop, implement, and enforce food safety laws.

By offering this certificate, universities can equip graduate students with the expertise needed to succeed in a growing and essential field, addressing the critical need for food safety experts in both private and public sectors.?

NCS Cooperative Agreement Recipient / FDA Meeting

FDA NCS Cooperative Agreement recipients (COAGs) met with FDA at the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) headquarters in Bethesda, MD on September 19, 2024. The COAGs represented IFPTI, APHL, AFDO, NEHA, and the University of Tennessee Knoxville. FDA was represented by the Office of Training Education and Development (OTED) and the Office of Partnerships (OP).

The primary focus of the meeting was the implementation of the FDA Regulatory and Laboratory Training System (RLTS), which creates a national standard in human and animal food regulatory and laboratory training. Discussion topics included:

• The current progress and deliverables of the five Standards Advisory Groups: Draft standards are now being sent to the Steering Committee for review and comments will go back to the Advisory Committees.
• Standing up the National Coordination Center: The Notice of Funding Opportunity is being drafted and revised. The Steering Committee made suggestions to the draft opportunity document.
• RLTS projects and timelines: A spread sheet was reviewed and discussed showing the steps and ownership of each of the 12 RLTS projects.
• The National Curriculum Standard (NCS): The Imports program area development has begun. Review of the basic levels of both the regulatory and the laboratory frameworks has also begun. Strategies were discussed to complete validation of the remaining content areas with the associations being asked to assist in survey dissemination.
• Program Standards #2: Strategies were reviewed for amending the Program Standards (Retail, Manufactured Food, Animal Food, Eggs) to reflect the RLTS competency-based approach to meeting training requirements. Starting with CFP, proposals will be made to each body to amend the program standards.
• Learning Management System (LMS) configuration: Current configuration projects include competency identification using AI, training needs assessment, scheduling systems, data transfer/migration, and legal considerations. Meetings will continue with the LMS teams from both FDA and IFPTI.
• Learners: Strategies were discussed to focus on learner needs including micro-learning and individualized learning goals.
• Standards Course Review (SCORE): Strategies were identified for the processes to review FDA lab and food courses against the standards and conduct competency alignments. Multiple partners will learn from initial review pilots (starting with lab courses) and then tackle FDA’s full catalog of food and lab courses.
• Technologies: COAGs presented unique projects that use new technologies, including AI individualized learning.

RLTS Presentation at WAFDO Conference

Dr. Craig Kaml and FDA Retail Food Specialist, David Engleskirchen presented Dive into the IFSS RLTS: Following a Food Inspector’s Journey in Competency Development at the WAFDO Conference in Sacramento, CA. Participants learned about the RLTS and the Interactive National Curriculum Standards (iNCS).

FDA Insights at FSPCA Annual Conference

We’re excited to share two FDA speakers who will highlight the FSPCA Annual Conference on November 19-20 in Burr Ridge, IL. Erik P. Mettler will keynote this year’s FSPCA Annual Conference. With his extensive experience in strengthening an integrated food safety system, Mr. Mettler will provide key insights into how your company can collaborate within the FDA's new Human Foods Program. Glenn Bass will be presenting an FDA perspective on human food at the conference.

• Food Safety Consortium: October 20-22 in Washington, DC.
• FSPCA Annual Conference: November 19-20 in Burr Ridge, IL.