How to Develop a FSMA-Ready Environmental Monitoring Program

ASTA guidance on Clean, Safe Spices recommends that all spice companies develop and implement an environmental monitoring program. FSMA has underscored the need to do so. The series features Dr. James Dickson and attorney Maile Hermida for a 90 minute webinar  to learn how to develop a FSMA-ready program and understand the related legal issues.

Dr. Dickson provides details on what the key elements of a comprehensive environmental monitoring program are and give advice on how to develop a program that is tailored to a spice facility. Ms. Hermida provides insight in FSMA requirements and FDA’s expectations for RTE foods, as well as the legal liability’s companies face related to environmental monitoring.

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About the Speakers:
James S. Dickson( Jim), Professor
Iowa State University
Department of Animal Science, Inter-Departmental Program in Microbiology
Dr. Dickson is currently a Professor in the Department of Animal Science and the Inter-Departmental Program in Microbiology at Iowa State University.  Dr. Dickson’s research focuses on the control of bacteria of public health significance in foods of animal origin.  Prior to his appointment at Iowa State University in 1993, he was employed by USDA-ARS as a Research Food Technologist and lead scientist of the Meat Safety Assurance Program, located at the Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE. Dr. Dickson was employed in the food industry for three years before joining USDA-ARS.

He is a Fellow in the American Academy of Microbiology, and is a Past President of the International Association for Food Protection. He is also active in the American Society for Microbiology and the Institute of Food Technologists.

Maile Gradison Hermida, Partner
Hogan Lovells
Maile Gradison Hermida practices with Hogan Lovells in the area of food and agriculture law. She represents food companies, including manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and their trade associations. Her clients are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, Department of Agriculture, Federal Trade Commission, and other health and safety regulatory agencies at both the federal and state levels.

Maile advises clients on the development of label claims, website and promotional campaigns for products, as well as the various requirements applicable to the labeling of foods. She also provides assistance to trade associations and food companies with fashioning comments and developing strategies in response to agency rulemaking and other public policy issues. Her practice is increasingly focused on counseling companies and trade associations as to the implementation of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. Maile also assists clients with responses to Federal Trade Commission, Congressional, and state Attorney General investigations and counsels clients on the development, interpretation, and enforcement of laws and regulations governing food production, processing, and distribution.

Prior to joining Hogan Lovells, she served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Charles F. Lettow of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Maile graduated with high honors from The George Washington University Law School, where she served as executive editor of The George Washington Law Review.