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EXPORT & IMPORT

Stephen M. Hahn
Dr. Stephen M. Hahn served as the 24th Commissioner of Food
and Drugs from December 17, 2019 to January 20, 2021.
Dr. Hahn is a physician, scientist and health care leader with
an extensive background in patient care, academic research
and executive leadership.

Blueprint for a New Era

From our experiences with the pandemic emed to align closely with the core values that
and the lessons we have been learning as part have guided me in my work as a medical and
of the FDA’s response to it – just how essential public health professional: to apply the best
the actions outlined in this blueprint are and, medical science and most rigorous data to the
if anything, that they are more important now, work; to promote integrity and transparency;
than ever. and to advance innovation and discovery.
BUILDING ON FSMA
The blueprint, which is being posted on
FDA.gov, outlines a path forward that builds
on the work the FDA has already done
through implementation of the FDA Food Sa-
fety Modernization Act (or FSMA).
As you know, FSMA has been a centerpie-
ce of our work to help ensure food safety
and prevent foodborne illnesses through the
Whatever theoretical or aspirational aspects use of science and risk-based standards. The
there were to this blueprint before the pande- authority granted by FSMA enables a flexible
mic, those have been propelled into concrete framework that is adaptable to the changing
and essential action plans. I’ll explain what food environment as science and technolo-
I mean as I get into the details of just how gies evolve.
we will be leveraging new technologies and The blueprint we release today represents
approaches to create a more digital, transpa- the next stage in this process - a commitment
rent and safer food system. we are making to the American people that
I want to point out that food safety was high we will work as fast and effectively as we can,
on my radar even before I’d come to the FDA. as fast and effectively as we can, to help ensu-
I’d heard about the New Era of Smarter Food re that we have the safest food system in the
Safety initiative and, upon arrival at the Agen- world.
cy, it was one of the first things I wanted to And we’ll do this in part by incorporating
learn more about. That’s in part because it se- the use of the most modern technologies that
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