Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Progress Report: Food Safety Program Increases Some Fees; Still Requires Funding From Other Sources

Report 03-57, October 2003

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Report Summary

  • The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services implemented some recommendations made in our November 2001 review of the Food Safety and Quality Program, which enabled the Division of Food Safety to move closer to self-sufficiency than in previous years.
  • However, program regulatory fees have not been increased to levels that fully support costs. Program revenues for the Division of Food Safety and the Division of Dairy Industry will be an estimated $3.9 million short of covering expenses during Fiscal Year 2003-04. This shortfall will be subsidized by general revenue and other department programs. To eliminate this subsidy, the Legislature would need to revise statutes to authorize the program to charge sufficient fees to cover costs. Also, the department has not implemented our recommendations to discontinue inspecting a dairy located in Spain that is exporting commodities to Florida.

Related Reports
  1. Some Funding Shifts Are Possible for the State's Food Safety and Quality Program
    Report 01-53 November 2001
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
agriculture, food safety, inspections, farms, dairies, food establishments, chemicals, pesticides, poultry, eggs, crop dusters, aerial applications, aircraft, bioterrorism, terrorism, September 11, agriculture, mosquito control, pesticides, fertilizers, security, risks, risk assessment, agrochemicals, aerial applicators