Food Facility Registration is a policy aimed at ensuring the security of all animal and plant products and water against biological attacks. Agro-terrorism is an issue that has risen at an alarming rate after the 9/11 attacks in the US. It targets the food and water consumed in the country to create fear, diseases, and deaths among the US population. Food and water poisoning war tactic began early during the World War II when countries poisoned each other agricultural resources. Agro-terrorism could pose a minimal economic threat but a very successful technique that can be used by the al-Qaeda terror group with the aim of attacking the United States population and economy. In a seizure of a terrorist hideout in Afghanistan, evidence showed that food and agriculture are potential targets. The information was found in manuals and documents explaining the procedures for developing animal plant and water poisons. These discoveries led to the introduction of health policies that require registration of food facilities that produce and supply animal and plant products (Olson, 2012).
Under a terrorist attack, the farming industry would languish economically from crop and animal losses and the production of human food and animal feeds may decline significantly. The demand for products targeted an assault may reduce (for instance, beef, dairy, poultry, pork, fruits, vegetables, and grains), while supply of alternative products may increase. Besides, the government would incur the cost of treating poisoning related health issues. Moreover, the social cost of the problem involves the death of people and livestock. The US would become exposed to other technical and financial attacks as a result of its vulnerable population (Olson, 2012).
Food Facility Registration is a health policy that was established by the Food and Drug Administration. The policy is implemented under the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Firms that manufacture or package food for human and animal consumption are required to register and renew their registration biannually. However, farms and restaurants do not fall under the targeted category. Since the year 2011, all the local and foreign food producing and supplying agencies are required by law to register their companies, the produced commodities and explain the procedures and ingredients for any human and animal consumption goods. The policy was introduced to protect the US people, livestock, and birds from any biological attacks through foods, supplements, and animal pellets. It ensures that all the consumable commodities made or shipped into the country are inspected and certified as fit for people and livestock consumption (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2016).
The Food Facility Registration Policy is guided by the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 that recognizes and empowers the Food and Drug Administration as a special Department of Health and Human to protect the population from bioterrorism attacks. The FDA operates within the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) of 2011 and amendment of section 415 of Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). It requires all the facilities involved in the production, packaging, holding, or supply of food to consumption in the US to register and submit additional details to the agency and assurance that the FDA will be allowed to scrutinize the products before distribution. The US Department of Health and Human empowers the FDA to deny or cancel the registration of companies if all the requirements and procedures are uncertain. For instance, the department is authorized to determine whether the food produced, processed, packaged, shipped, or stored by a recognized food firm has a significant possibility of generating severe adverse health effects or death to people or animals. In such circumstances, the department has the power to close down the facility and sue the operators (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2016).
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) play a crucial role in the implementation and refutation of the Food Facility Registration Healthcare Policy. For instance, they define the acceptable percentage of toxins in food products whereby the level beyond is considered harmful and the threat to human and animal consumption. The post graduate nurses assist in research and examinations of foodstuffs allowed in the country. Besides, the APRN maintains documented records of reported cases of poisoning in various healthcare facilities. They send reports to the FDA to determine the rates and need issue a threat notice. Moreover, the APRN should be in the frontline to develop, manufacture, design, implement, and evaluate the medical and healthcare devices used to examine food products and send information to the Food and Drug Administration (National Academy of Sciences, 2015).
The Food Facility Registration Policy influences nursing practice through research and coordination. Professional nurses are required to identify cases of food poisoning as reported in healthcare facilities. They also report the cases to the necessary agencies for investigations. The policy stipulates the role that nurses play in protecting the nation from bioterrorism and agro-terrorism attacks. Health practitioners are equipped with knowledge about food toxins and how to identify and report identified cases (Keenan, Spice, Cole, & Banfi, 2015).
On the other hand, an interprofessional teamwork is necessary to ensure coordinated implementation of the policy. For instance, nursing professionals diagnose and report cases to the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA investigates the source of poisoning and food facilities involved and acts according to various laws provided (Keenan et al., 2015).
In conclusion, Food Facility Registration Health Policy is an effective measure to counter bioterrorism in the US. The Food and Drugs Administration is an authority that has successfully protected the US human and animal population from attacks through consumable food products. The success has been achieved through coordination of the agency and the Advanced Practice Registered Nurses in the country. The FDA uses Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) of 2011 to regulate food producing companies.
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