Among the committee’s recommendations is a re-evaluation of organizational procedures and structures within FSIS, with one objective being improvement of use of staff time. Currently, approximately 10% of the time of 120 employees is assigned to in-commerce surveillance. One example is to consider whether it would be more efficient and effective to use 100% of the time of 12 employees. Such a change, if feasible, could enhance training and facilitate collaboration with other jurisdictions.

Finally, it is unclear how FSIS plans to determine the relative proportions of investigators’ time that would be spent on initial surveillance and followup surveillance and how priorities would be set for the two activities on a regular basis. That is a key element of in-commerce surveillance, but it was not part of the task assigned to the committee.

As indicated in the In-Commerce I report, this committee re-emphasizes the need to avoid duplicative and redundant inspection efforts, making sure, however, there is adequate surveillance in all situations.