IFSAC Charter

IFSAC’s charter [PDF – 7 pages] documents and defines IFSAC’s operational process as well as its organizational structure and responsibilities.

IFSAC Operational Process

Identify, prioritize, and coordinate cross-cutting analytical needs related to food safety and foodborne illness
Identify, develop, and implement specific analytic projects that address needs. Execute identified collaborative projects, with continuous monitoring of data quality and use, analyses, and related research activities.

Steering Committee (SC):
- Consists of two senior members from each agency.
- Meets regularly to review and prioritize project proposals and deliverables as well as to provide feedback and technical direction on analytical projects.
- Ensures that sufficient personnel resources are available.
- Ensures that projects are on track to meet both IFSAC and individual agency needs.
Technical Workgroup (TWG):
- Consists of team members from each agency who are experts in their respective fields, including epidemiology, statistics, food policy, public health, and microbiology, and other disciplines.
- Forms tri-agency project teams to conduct analyses and report results, and meets regularly to discuss projects, plan project details, and determine next steps.
Communications Workgroup (CWG):
- Consists of at least two people from each agency, including at least one TWG member, and individual agency communication specialists
- Advises the IFSAC SC and TWG on the development and implementation of communication materials.
- Coordinates with Agency communications specialists to ensure harmonization of communication materials and messaging.
- Coordinates with IFSAC project teams to develop communication materials for external audiences, including conference materials, manuscripts, webinars, and press releases, among other materials.
- Coordinates and responds to media or other external inquires.