Abstract: This hearing is part of the subcommittee's investigation of the activities of the Food and Drug Administration. The subject of this hearing is the FDA's program to inspect imported foodstuffs. The ability of the input inspection programs to prevent contaminated foods from reaching American consumers appears to be at best marginal. Witnesses from the FDA, the Customs Service, and the subcommitte's staff present information concerning the imported food inspection program.

Official and officially recognized inspection and certification systems are fundamentally important and very widely used means of food control systems. The confidence of consumers in the safety and quality of their food supply depends in part on their perception as to the effectiveness of these systems as food control measures. A substantial part of the worldwide trade in food depends upon the use of inspection and certification systems. Following the FAO/WHO Conference on Food Standards, Chemicals in Food and Food Trade in 1991, the Codex Alimentarius Commission undertook the development of guidance documents for governments and other interested parties on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems. This third edition includes texts adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission up to 2007.

"Official and officially recognized inspections and certification systems are fundamentally important and very widely used means of food control systems. The confidence of consumers in the safety and quality of their food supply depends in part on their perception as to the effectiveness of these systems as food control measures. A substantial part of the worldwide trade in food depends upon the use of inspection and certification systems. Following the FAO/WHO Conference of Food Standards, Chemicals in Food and Food Trade in 1991, the Codex Alimentarius Commission undertook the development of guidance documents for governments and other interested parties on food import and export inspection and certification systems. This fifth edition includes texts adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission up to 2011."--Page [4] of cover.

Provides an introduction to radioactivity and radiation with an emphasis on analytical methodology for determining radiounclides in food. Background information covered includes radioactivity in the environment, metabolism of radiation in humans and animals, and radiounclides in the food chain.