Within its proposed CGMP and preventive controls rule for animal feed/pet food, FDA proposes that a “qualified individual” perform or oversee activities associated with the required food safety plan. Who is a “qualified individual?”

FDA proposes that a “qualified individual” would be one who has successfully completed training in the
development and application of risk-based preventive controls at least equivalent to that received under a
standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by FDA, or be otherwise qualified through job experience. FDA
also has proposed that the qualified individual may be, but is not required to be, an employee of the facility.
Related to this proposed requirement, FDA currently is funding activities associated with the Food Safety
Preventive Controls Alliance, which is responsible for developing the standardized curriculum that FDA will
recognize as being adequate for training purposes. The NGFA serves on the Alliance’s organizing and steering
committees, and is actively involved in developing the curriculum, which will be made available in early 2016.