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beneficial changes by the ISSC, but some areas still require 

 work. 



FDA is also concerned that there are inconsistencies in funding 

 and thus in implementation among the states that ought not to 

 exist under the program. We recognize that in the current 

 fiscal climate there are no ready solutions to this problem. 

 Nonetheless, funding inconsistencies have the potential to 

 affect safety and can have the effect of penalizing States that 

 are devoting the most resources and doing the best jobs. This 

 is a problem that remains to be solved. 



J. Federal/State Activities: Training and Other Support 



Although FDA has statutory authority over all seafood in 

 interstate commerce, the Agency has traditionally exercised 

 enforcement discretion with regard to retail establishments. 

 The sheer number of these establishments would totally 

 overwhelm any comprehensive Federal inspection system. FDA has 

 traditionally provided training and other forms of technical 

 assistance to States and local governments to inspect retail 

 food establishments through the Agency's retail Federal/State 

 cooperative program. The Agency also has working relationships 

 with some retailers involving advice and information sharing. 



