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 In this section:

                Domestic Mutual Reliance

Domestic Mutual Reliance

                        Domestic Mutual Reliance Benefits for Industry and Consumers
          FDA and State Counterparts
          Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food East Division 1
          Domestic Mutual  Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food East Division 2
          Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food East Division 3
          Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food East Division 4
          Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food East Division 5
          Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food East Division 6
          Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food West Division 1
          Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food West Division 2
          Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food West Division 3
          Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food West Division 4
          Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food West Division 5
          Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food West Division 6
          Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Division of West Coast Imports (DWCI) Home
          For Federal, State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Officials
          Integrated Food Safety System (IFSS) Programs and Initiatives
          Domestic Mutual Reliance
          Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food East Division 4Domestic Mutual Reliance Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food East Division 4
  
  	
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The Division of Human and Animal Food East 4 (HAFE4) encompasses: Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. State counterparts perform contract inspections in both human and animal food facilities.

For more information on Rapid Response Teams, Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards, and other programs, please see FDA and State Counterparts.

Florida

The FDA engages with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to perform contract human food and animal food/feed inspections. The FDA relies on the state’s expertise to perform hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP), Seafood HACCP, current Good Manufacturing Practice and Preventive Controls program areas. State employees enter and inspect under their authority for human food inspections and under FDA authority for animal food/feed inspections, thus maintaining federal credentials. Florida also participates in the Produce Safety Cooperative Agreement.

In October 2021, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services signed a domestic mutual reliance partnership agreement with the FDA to expand collaboration and commitment to protecting public health, as well as enhance the relationship between the agencies as they work together toward an Integrated Food Safety System.

Areas of Collaboration

Utilizing state inspectional data to assist with casework performed
	Sharing compliance activities
	Sharing of inspections and investigations data through FDA-Florida proof of process
	Joint inspections of facilities when needed
	Sharing of sample analysis to remove violative products from the market
	Regulatory meetings with the state and the division’s compliance branch to discuss non-compliance of firms and bring firms into voluntary compliance
	On-the-job training for state inspectors
	Regulated industry information sharing
	Product recallsAdditional Resources

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer ServicesPuerto Rico

The FDA engages with the Puerto Rico Department of Health to perform contract human food inspections. The FDA relies on Puerto Rico’s expertise in current good manufacturing practice inspections program. State employees enter and inspect under state authority, thus maintaining federal commissions.

In May 2023, the FDA announced the signing of a developmental partnership agreement with the Puerto Rico Department of Consumer Affairs (DACO). The agreement will focus on emergency response, partner training, and minimizing duplicative efforts.

Areas of Collaboration

Regulatory meetings with the state and the division’s compliance branch to discuss non-compliance of firms and bring firms into voluntary compliance
	On-the-job training for state inspectors
	Utilizing state inspectional data to assist with casework performed
	Sharing compliance activities
	Joint inspections of facilities when neededAdditional Resources

Puerto Rico Department of Health
	Puerto Rico Department of Consumer Affairs (DACO)U.S. Virgin Islands

The U.S. Virgin Islands does not currently perform inspections under FDA contract, though  FDA engages with the U.S. Virgin Islandsto assist the division with inspections. The FDA relies on the U.S. Virgin Islands’ expertise in firm inventory, outbreaks, and consumer complaints.

Areas of Collaboration

Joint inspections of facilities when needed
	Sharing compliance activities
	Regulated industry information sharing
	Product recallsAdditional Resources

U.S. Virgin Island Website

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      05/05/2023Domestic Mutual Reliance

          
                        Domestic Mutual Reliance Benefits for Industry and Consumers
          FDA and State Counterparts
          Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food East Division 1
          Domestic Mutual  Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food East Division 2
          Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food East Division 3
          Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food East Division 4
          Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food East Division 5
          Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food East Division 6
          Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food West Division 1
          Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food West Division 2
          Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food West Division 3
          Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food West Division 4
          Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food West Division 5
          Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Human and Animal Food West Division 6
          Domestic Mutual Reliance Work in Division of West Coast Imports (DWCI)
 
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