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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release July 4, 1998

                  THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES FOOD SAFETY
                          RESEARCH INSTITUTE
                             July 4, 1998

In his weekly radio address, the President will announce a plan to create a Joint Institute for Food Safety Research that will develop a coordinated strategy for conducting food safety research activities consistent with the President's Food Safety Initiative.

Joint Institute for Food Safety Research. The President will direct the Secretaries of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) to report back to him within 90 days on the creation of a Joint Institute for Food Safety Research that will: (1) develop a strategic plan for conducting food safety research activities consistent with the President's Food Safety Initiative; and (2) efficiently coordinate all Federal food safety research, including research conducted with the private sector and academia.

Goals of the Institute. The two principal goals of the Joint Institute for Food Safety Research will be to develop the means to identify foodborne hazards more rapidly and accurately, and to develop effective interventions to prevent food contamination at each step from farm to table.

In addition to improving coordination among the Federal agencies, the Institute will serve as a focal point for coordinating research with states, the private sector, and academia, by means of public-private research partnerships, or other appropriate mechanisms. The specific structure and operations of the Institute will be outlined in the agencies' report back to the President, and will be based on extensive consultations with all interested parties, including consumers, farmers, industry, and academia.

Current Status. At present there are at least 12 agencies that conduct food safety research. Under the President's food safety initiative, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy has established an interagency food safety research working group to help coordinate Federal research priorities and planning. While this interagency process is improving our coordination, a Joint Institute for Food Safety Research will provide an even stronger and better focused research strategy for food safety.