Overview

• The FDA is preparing a proposal to outsource most routine food safety inspections to state and local authorities, building on existing partnerships with 43 states and Puerto Rico.
• Higher-risk inspections, such as those for infant formula facilities, and oversight of foreign food facilities would remain under federal jurisdiction.
• The shift is intended to free up federal resources for priority inspections, addressing capacity constraints exacerbated by recent layoffs and contractor hiring.
• A Government Accountability Office report earlier this year confirmed that states already conduct approximately one-third of routine food inspections under FDA contracts.
• The plan remains in draft form and requires congressional funding and agency approval before implementation, with stakeholders debating its potential impact on food safety.